QuestionOk first of all I have a hifonics bxi2610 class D amp. this is a 2600 or 2400 watts rms if wired at 1 ohm but it says that I can wire this amp at 2 or 4 ohms as well... now is it true that if I hook up my amp to my car without upgrading my alternator, and wiring my subs at 1 ohm can burn my amp? Now if it's truth, what can I do because I don’t want to upgrade or change my alternator??? I would really appreciate some help I’m completely lost. Thank you.
AnswerHi Omar,
When you wire the amplifier for a lower impedance load, you'll allow it to produce more power. As the amp's power ratings show, you can get more power when you use the amp with a 1-ohm load than when you use it with a 4-ohm load.
The amplifier can't produce power out of nothing; if it's sending 2400 watts to the speakers, then it needs to take in more than 2400 watts from the vehicle's charging system (the alternator and battery). For example, if the amplifier is 80% efficient, then it needs to draw 3000 watts from the charging system in order to produce 2400 watts for the speakers. That translates to a current draw of more than 200 amperes from the car's electrical system. Most stock amplifiers can't produce that much current; if you overload the alternator's capacity, the system voltage will drop until the extra power is drawn from the battery. This does make the amplifier work harder and hotter, but the component that's really being strained is the alternator. So your information is backwards: you won't necessarily endanger the amplifier by using it with a stock alternator, but you run the risk of damaging the alternator over time if you're trying to use it with an amplifier that's too big for it.
Wiring the system for a higher impedance will limit the amplifier's output power; it will run cooler, and it won't put as much strain on the alternator. Of course, the trade-off is that your subs won't be getting as much power. You'll have to decide how much power you need, and whether your stock alternator can support it.
To make things more complicated: just because you're using a 2400 watt amplifier doesn't mean you'll be getting that much power from it all the time, or even most of the time. You're not using the full power output until you turn the volume up. So it's possible to use the system in a 1-ohm configuration, without straining the alternator, if you're just going to be using the system for normal music listening at a reasonable volume.
If you're just looking for plenty of bass for listening to music, then I'd suggest wiring the system for a higher impedance, and see if that's enough power to give you the bass levels you want. On the other hand, if you're just trying to get the loudest possible output, then there's a good chance you're going to need an alternator upgrade--either before or after the stock alternator fails.
Hope this helps!
Brian
