Re: cooling an amp (min. Audi content)

["Michael & Christine" <mlindner@netquest.com>]

:I've got an amp mounted upside down in my trunk of my 90.  I never really
:had  a problem with it shutting down due to heat until I hooked up all 4
:channels and now it is 100+ F  in Texas.  I am gonna get a fan for it,
:question is; would it be better to blow air across it, or suck air away from
:it, like a radiator fan does?


You would probably acheive better cooling by blowing air across the unit.  Have
you had problems with it shutting down?  What's the brand?  What's the power
output?  Do you know what ohm load the amp is seeing?

Heat sinks are designed to dissapate heat.  Heat rises.  If there is any way at
all to mount the amp with the heat sinks facing up (or at the very least
mounting the amp to a side panel so they are facing out) chances are you would
not need a fan.  But mounting an amp upside down does not allow the heat sinks
to fully do their job and lets the amp bake in its' own heat output.  If your
amp didn't have a thermal overload protection circuit, you would probably blow
the amp.

Likewise, an improper ohm load on the amp can cause it to shut down in extreme
heat.  This may cause damage as well.

Hope this helps; feel free to contact me with any further questions.

Best regards,

Michael Lindner