Hooking up a car amplifier inside my house and....?

Question

I've got a rockford subwoofer amp hooked up to some subs in my living room, the problem is I power the amp up and hook everything up, but it only plays at a very low volume. If you turn the input up 2 much, or the post gain, it comes in and out (not to be confused with off and on)

the only thing I can think of is the power supply isn't good enough. its a 12v dc, (i think its supposed to be ac? )

any help would be appreciated :)

also do you think maybe it would need an extra ground hooked up or something? i personally think its just starved for power

Answer 1

Look at the amps on the 12-volt DC convertor and the amps on the subwoof amplifier, which might be listed on the back panel or in the owner's manual. If the subwoof amplifier is automobile electronics, it is DC. AC will fry it. From your description, it sounds like you don't have the amps to drive the amplifier.

Radio Shack has a 120-VAC to 12V-DC convertor box that puts out 40-70amp. Using a "power brick" that plugs into a wall socket might be giving you 1.5amp.

Thus, the reason why those powerful subwoof amplifiers burn up a car's alternator. The amplifier wants 60amp, the alternator might be rated at 40amp and have to run continuously.

Answer 2

You want it to be DC power obviously for the amp to play.

Your ac to dc converter is not strong enough. most of the ones you buy in a shop or radio shack will not put out enough amperage and it will internally shut down so the source (your amp) so it doesn't internally short.

you need a stronger powered converter for anything bigger than a headunit. Amps just cant run off of smaller ac/dc converters. be safe

Cheers