Help needed on cooling fan/solution

adc · 02-07-2013, 11:08 PM

Hey gang,

I have an Alpine PDX5 installed in the stock driver side location in the trunk, powering upgraded speakers in the car via Technik's pnp harness. When I play a very high volumes for a few minutes, the amp goes into thermal protection shutdown.

I'd like to avoid this scenario, and of course play my music loud, so I'm thinking of cutting some cooling slots into the plastic cover of the amp recess. But I'm wondering if passive cooling slots are sufficient, and was wondering if someone could advise on the matter.

If I should buy a fan, what's the smallest, simplest and most reliable recommendation from the collective?

Or am I simply overdriving the thing, and I should turn it down a notch?

Many thanks, appreciate your thoughts...

1MOREMOD · 02-07-2013, 11:11 PM

turn it down or take it out. i have my stuff out for the track and just never put it in anymore.

adc · 02-08-2013, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

turn it down or take it out. i have my stuff out for the track and just never put it in anymore.

This is a daily driver, so music is a good thing to have, especially when the wife is driving it. Besides, I doubt removing 5 lbs from the trunk will make me any faster on track...

THE TECH · 02-08-2013, 08:46 AM

Sounds like a problem with the amp really. I run an even bigger amp and have zero issues.

kawasaki00 · 02-08-2013, 09:22 AM

I have a pdx5 in our grand cherokee, it is totally enclosed with no air movement. It is runniing polk front and rear and a square solo 12" on the 5th channel, I can jam it all day long and it barely gets warm. I would say something is wrong with it or are your impedences correct?

1MOREMOD · 02-08-2013, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adc

This is a daily driver, so music is a good thing to have, especially when the wife is driving it. Besides, I doubt removing 5 lbs from the trunk will make me any faster on track...

Yep 2 seconds a lap.

adc · 02-08-2013, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kawasaki00

I have a pdx5 in our grand cherokee, it is totally enclosed with no air movement. It is runniing polk front and rear and a square solo 12" on the 5th channel, I can jam it all day long and it barely gets warm. I would say something is wrong with it or are your impedences correct?

I'm running 4ohm SWS under the front seats wired in parallel on one of the channels, and the rest of the speakers are 4 ohms each.

It's fine 99% of the time, but I have good quality speakers up front (rainbows) and they sound absolutely cracking when I really turn it up. Frankly that type of volume levels are much higher than stock, and imtnk the PDX is rated at 50W so maybe I'm just pushing it too much? Not sure how to tell...

The amp gets warm but not burning hot. I'm thinking creating ventilation holes might help, or even stepping up to a small fan...

kmarei · 02-08-2013, 09:12 PM

i have a spare cover for the left side cover for the rear lights
cut a hole in it for a 12cm fan
and that should allow some airflow
you can have it for free
i believe the sedan and coupe use the same part
but not sure

adc · 02-08-2013, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmarei

i have a spare cover for the left side cover for the rear lights
cut a hole in it for a 12cm fan
and that should allow some airflow
you can have it for free
i believe the sedan and coupe use the same part
but not sure

Cool, thanks man! Let's meet up for lunch or drinks, whatever works best...

02-07-2013, 11:08 PM	#1
adc Major General 2750 Rep 6,759 Posts Drives: 2018 F80 M3 ED Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: MD/DC iTrader: (12)	Help needed on cooling fan/solution Hey gang, I have an Alpine PDX5 installed in the stock driver side location in the trunk, powering upgraded speakers in the car via Technik's pnp harness. When I play a very high volumes for a few minutes, the amp goes into thermal protection shutdown. I'd like to avoid this scenario, and of course play my music loud, so I'm thinking of cutting some cooling slots into the plastic cover of the amp recess. But I'm wondering if passive cooling slots are sufficient, and was wondering if someone could advise on the matter. If I should buy a fan, what's the smallest, simplest and most reliable recommendation from the collective? Or am I simply overdriving the thing, and I should turn it down a notch? Many thanks, appreciate your thoughts... __________________ 2018 F80 Santorini 2019 Z4 3.0i 2022 X2 M35i
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02-07-2013, 11:11 PM	#2
1MOREMOD - 11817 Rep 23,187 Posts Drives: Race car-> Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: check your mirrors iTrader: (5)	turn it down or take it out. i have my stuff out for the track and just never put it in anymore. __________________ 02 Tiag e46 M3\|6MT\|GC plates\|MCS c.o.\|GC bars\|GC race control arms\|GC bushings\|BW eng. & tran. mounts\|subframe kit\|BW race shifter\|BW Jaffster\|Euro header\|BW exhaust\|K&N c.a.i.\|Epic race tune\|Rouge pulleys\|Seibon CF hood\|CSL bumper\|apr gt 250 & splitter\|ST-40\|XR-2\|SS lines\|half cage\|Recaro profi\|Profi 2 harness\|BMWpedals\|BW studs\|
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02-08-2013, 08:46 AM	#4
THE TECH BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 307 Rep 13,093 Posts Drives: BPMsport 2012 E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kansas iTrader: (45) Garage List 2013 Nissan GTR [0.00] 2019 Sierra Denali ... [0.00] 1999 Nissan Silvia [0.00] 1999 Nissan Skyline ... [0.00] 1998 Toyota Supra [0.00]	Sounds like a problem with the amp really. I run an even bigger amp and have zero issues.
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02-08-2013, 09:22 AM	#5
kawasaki00 Lieutenant Colonel 233 Rep 1,673 Posts Drives: SG-E92 ESS-650 BPM Tune Join Date: May 2012 Location: Charlotte NC iTrader: (11)	I have a pdx5 in our grand cherokee, it is totally enclosed with no air movement. It is runniing polk front and rear and a square solo 12" on the 5th channel, I can jam it all day long and it barely gets warm. I would say something is wrong with it or are your impedences correct? __________________ Electronics Junkie, Engine Builder.
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02-08-2013, 09:12 PM	#8
kmarei Major General 686 Rep 6,845 Posts Drives: 2018 Audi RS5 coupe Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Reston, VA iTrader: (34) Garage List 2018 Audi RS5 [0.00]	i have a spare cover for the left side cover for the rear lights cut a hole in it for a 12cm fan and that should allow some airflow you can have it for free i believe the sedan and coupe use the same part but not sure __________________
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