Powering car amp using PSU

Sidebar Sidebar
sandals100

sandals100

Honorable
Feb 4, 2014
12
0
10,570
Hi, I have a 400 watt pioneer amp that I use in my home thertre system. It is hooked up to a 12" sub, I used to have a shitty 400 watt PSU hooked up ot it which was barely sufficient. After having enough of not being able to turn it up too high I decided to get a new PSU. I went out and bought a 500 watt psu which gives above 380 watts on the 12volt rails. The existing one was giving about 300 watts ish. I was wondering if there was anyway that I could hook both psu's into the one amp. Keep in mind that I have cut all the yellow and black wires and hooked them into the positive and negative terminals of the amp.
 
Solution
C
There are ways to achieve this, but most of them are questionable. Connecting all the positive leads and all of the negative leads will work, but damage to any one of the components could occur (most likely one of the PSUs). The safest way to draw current from both supplies, would be to install diodes onto each power supply. They would have to be rated at enough current to supply your amplifier. In addition, power diodes can have a varying amount of voltage loss across the diode, so you should have the diode with the lowest voltage drop installed on the PSU with the higher wattage output. This would ensure that the larger power supply was taking the larger part of the load.
OR
You could try something like this.
Sort by date Sort by votes
C

civers1

Honorable
May 8, 2013
7
0
10,520
There are ways to achieve this, but most of them are questionable. Connecting all the positive leads and all of the negative leads will work, but damage to any one of the components could occur (most likely one of the PSUs). The safest way to draw current from both supplies, would be to install diodes onto each power supply. They would have to be rated at enough current to supply your amplifier. In addition, power diodes can have a varying amount of voltage loss across the diode, so you should have the diode with the lowest voltage drop installed on the PSU with the higher wattage output. This would ensure that the larger power supply was taking the larger part of the load.
OR
You could try something like this.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
sandals100

sandals100

Honorable
Feb 4, 2014
12
0
10,570

All that about diodes sound wayy too hard for someone like me to do in a safe manner, I think I might stick with 1 psu unless someone has an easier idea. Also with connecting all the leads to their respective terminals sounds too dodgy but thanks for the help.

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
C

civers1

Honorable
May 8, 2013
7
0
10,520
No problem. Although I would not recommend it, but when I was very young I had a similar set up hooked up to a car battery on a battery charger. LOL, it was a very bad idea for all kinds of reasons, but it worked, and I didn't know any better.
I would put your current equipment up for sale and purchase something more appropriate.:p
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

W
Question Amplifier turns on, sub makes a thud, then amp turns off.
Replies
1
Views
3K
Audio
Bcuzzin69
Bcuzzin69
R
  • Question
Question Car stereo/amplifier issues
Replies
1
Views
2K
Audio
americanaudiophile
A
K
  • Solved
Solved! Could this amp damage my speakers?
Replies
4
Views
5K
Audio
jsmithepa
jsmithepa
N
  • Solved
Solved! Loud Humming coming from Sub
Replies
1
Views
25K
Audio
americanaudiophile
A
L
  • Solved
Solved! my best recommendation? 2,000w subs + 700w (class d) amp
Replies
2
Views
2K
Audio
Karadjgne
Karadjgne

TRENDING THREADS

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom