How to Keep Amp Cool in Trunk (Completely Explained)

Most people are concerned about keeping their car amps from overheating, especially during the summer months. So, how to keep amp cool in trunk? When it comes to keeping your car amp cool, make sure that it gets enough ventilation.

If you are going to install the device yourself, you may drill a few holes in the bottom of the case. Alternatively, you can add fans if you want. When looking for an amp, never underestimate the importance of choosing one with adequate cooling capabilities.

In this post, you get to know what causes an amp to get hot. And, know how to keep amp cool whenever it starts heating up.

The solutions provided in his post help you avoid serious damage to your car’s audio system. So, how to keep your amplifier cool? Read on to find out more.

How Normal It Is for Car Amps to Get Hot And Burn?

The temperature of your car amp gives you an indication of its health. When it gets hot, it means the amp is working hard. However, when the amp gets too hot, it can damage the circuit. Sometimes, it may burn vital components as well.

Although car amps can get hot, there is an average operating temperature set by manufacturers. Therefore, the inside temperature of a car amp is to reach a temperature as high as 165 degrees F. And, this is something that you can find in many car amps available on the market.

Still, with 165 degrees F temperature on the rise, the amp won’t catch fire. Or, damage several internal circuits. But when you keep on running the amp in this condition for a long, it will cause significant damage to the device.

If the car amp has a plastic case, chances are that it will catch fire. But fabric or carpet won’t catch fire at this temperature. That’s because these materials will start to burn if they reach 482 degrees F.

Several car amps will run effectively run at temperatures where you would find it too hot to touch. This is when the temperature reaches up to 140 degrees F for metallic surfaces and 185 degrees F for non-metallic surfaces.

Why Does the Car Amp Get Hot?

Below listed are common reasons that can cause car amp to become hot.

• Insufficient Power – When your power cables have a small capacity for the amp that you want to use, the device can become hot. The device will shut down because the amplifier isn’t getting enough power to give output.
• Low Impedance – If the woofer has a low load, the device will shut down to prevent further damage.
• Gain And Bass Boost – When you set the gain too high, the amplifier won’t work smoothly. It will result in distortion. If the gain is set too low, the sound won’t be as high as it should have been. The same goes for bass control. When you set them wrong, the amp might get too hot and shut down.

Is It Important to Keep the Amp Cool?

Before knowing how to keep your amp cool, try to understand why it is a necessity.

• An overheated car amp is dangerous for everyone in the car
• An overheated car amplifier can cause an explosion. Hence, you may get injured by fire or by shrapnel, or something else
• Whenever a car amp gets too hot, it damages the internal components. Besides, it may even damage the wires including the speakers

How To Keep Your Car Amplifier Cool

Car amps get hot when turned on. Moreover, the heat from the sun during the summer will make the amp even hotter. Wondering, how to keep your car amp cool? There are ways to cool down your car amp without much trouble.

1. Double-Check the Wiring

The first thing that you should take care of when installing the car amp is to look out for loose wires. Wiring is an integral part when installing a car amplifier. Even when you misplace wires, the car amp won’t produce much heat. In that case, it will blow out the fuses.

It is wise to take a moment and perform a quick inspection of the overall wiring of your audio system. The ground and power cables are important in a car amplifier. Therefore, ensure that the ground connection is secure and good.

2. Consider Buying a High-Quality Car Amp

There is no shortage of car amplifiers. Still, the type of amplifier will determine whether or not it will overheat. If you are planning to keep the amp in the trunk, you can choose one that won’t generate a lot of heat.

Car amplifiers are categorized into four classes. Each of them comes with its advantages and disadvantages.

• Class A – These types of amps come with the least power efficiency. But they have great sound fidelity. As such, they produce more heat as well.
• Class B – These types of car amps have good power efficiency. However, they have low sound fidelity. In addition, they produce sound distortion.
• Class AB – You may consider these types of amps as the hybrid ones that come between Class A and Class B. They have better efficiency than Class A and less efficiency than Class B. They produce more distortion than Class A but less than Class B.
• Class D – Although these types of amps have the highest power efficiency, they can produce a considerable amount of distortion when the frequency is high.

3. Don’t Forget to Have Proper Ventilation

Typically, the casing of a car amp shouldn’t be too hot to touch even if it is running for hours. However, if you experience something like that, it is wise to look for an expert technician.

Or, you can check the ventilation system provided by the manufacturer. Sometimes, removing obstruction or dust or even replacing the fan can work wonders. You don’t want your amp to have a temperature over 80 degrees F.

So, how to keep your car amp cool in this situation? Make sure that there is enough air to circulate inside the car’s truck. You can do that by drilling vents inside the trunk or placing fans near the device.

4. Ensure That The Speakers And Amplifier Are Compatible

Even when you use a high-quality amp that generates less heat, make sure that it is compatible with the speakers. Hence, before buying a car amp, check out the root mean square or RMS and impedance values. Seek advice from an expert in this regard so that you don’t have to face undesirable situations.

5. Never Make Your Amp Work Hard

Try to keep the volume, bass, and gain at optimum levels almost every time. It may seem an absurd idea because the sole purpose of installing a car amp is to experience music louder.

But amplifiers become prone to overheating when you increase volume for extended periods. Some amps will even shut down to protect from severe damage.

Conclusion

Upgrading your car audio system can make your daily commute exciting. A car amp gives you the best sound. But a car amp that overheats constantly ruins your experience. However, keeping your amp cool is not so hard.

By now you have understood how to keep your amp cool. Follow these tips and enjoy listening to music while keeping your amp cool. Besides, you can prevent overheating issues by following the guidelines as well.