I'm trying to switch up my install a little bit for summer by adding a front stage and getting a couple new amps. My problem, like everyone has, is space...
I want to put both of the amps in the spare tire well, however my box and back carpet covers the entire well so getting air to the amps is a huge issue. I've been trying to think of ways to run fans, but without access to "fresh" air, it seems pointless. So here what I'm thinking...
1. Use amps that can withstand the heat (subs will be at 2ohm and front stage 4ohm). 2. Find a new cooling method for the amps. 3. Figure out a way to get "fresh" air to the amps.
The amps that I want to use right now are.. Frontstage - MMats SQ-2175 Substage - MMats D-1100.2
Any idea thats halfway logical is welcomed... thanks!
I've built a false floor before where I used a breathable material for the amps, but its going to be hard to find a color match.
I just don't know if it will be able to move enough air around since the box covers 2/3s of the whole... if not more. Also the Arizona summers where its 115 everyday isn't helping.
Glasswolf, I've looked at using those and they seem like they would push a good amount of air, but I am afraid they are a little to long. I will have to measure everything out tonight, but I might be able to fit them.
what is under the spare tire well? If nothing, maybe an air scoop cut into the bottom of the well, One to scoop air in, one to let it out, Use a fine wire screen and filter to keep crap out...idk about rain? you get much of that out there? Just dont drive in the rain?
What about mounting on each side of the trunk?
If you made the "scoops out of say 2" pvc with holes drilled in it to let water pass, but still get air, and still use filters...down side, pita to make..up side, no fan electrical interferance noise..
with two of those fans, you can lift the floor in the trunk, leaving a space of maybe 3" between the sheet metal and the carpeted board, and stick one fan on each side. one push, one pull. heat rises, so it will circulate hot air out from under that tire well, and into the trunk area. after that, there's not a lot you can do about the heat except vent it to outside air, which may not be any better some days.
if you have speaker holes that link to the trunk use one side for in and one side for out, then you are cycling the a/c air from your car back to the amps.
Yeah I'm not going to cut holes in the bottom of the wheel well.. I live in St. Louis and Phoenix depending on what time of the year it is.
I'll probably try Glass's idea and just lift the false floor a little to run the fans. However I only have about 2" of space before the top of the box will hit the top of the trunk so it will be a close fit.
I had a mmats 2900.1D mounted under a false floor wired to 2 ohms with 2 batteries in the rear and it only got slightly warm when i played at very high volumes for an extended time.
Thanks for the comment LMS, I used to run a 3500.1 at 1ohm and it was a complete beast. Never got hot, even with tones. I love the MMats class Ds, but It's my first time with the SQs.
Glasswolf, should I run the fans off a relay to a switch or just have them run whenever the amps turn on?
Wire the rem to a relay, then use the outputs to turn on the fans and amps together, You could also use a thermal limit switch on the fan feeds, so they only come on when it reaches like 110 or what ever you decide for a temp.
in that case, use a relay with power from the distribution block to drive the fans, and use the remote trigger from the head unit to trigger the relay so they come on with the stereo.
I use fans, but both of my amps are class AB. they get far too hot to touch without losing skin
