Amplifier Install Problem (DC current)?

[M3FSQ]

Hi guys,

I just picked up a 2000 Honda Insight yesterday and am installing a stereo system I had lying around. I've perused through the boards a bit and installed the cd player correctly and ran all the power wires for the amplifier. When I turned the car on for the first time the amplifiers light was red then illuminated green for a split second before turning off completely(no red light). I thought it maybe was the grounding, so I changed locations and also changed out the fuses on the amplifier as well. Anyway I saw this on my amplifiers manual and thought I read something on here about having DC power.

"DC Offset Protection
This circuit protects the output of the amplifier against DC voltage. If for some
reason DC voltage is detected at the output stage, the amplifier will shut down
protecting the speakers from direct current."

So, where did you guys ground your amplifier and/or does that DC protection thing have anything to do with the insight? Thanks guys

[Fjord]

Nah, the DC offset protection is for the speakers. If DC shows up on there (short in the speaker wire, bad output transistor, etc) it shuts down so you don't blow out your speakers.

The Insight has normal 12 volt system. Using a converter instead of alternator doesn't affect much. The aluminum should ground fine, although it's all painted.

Try removing all the connections except for power and see if it still does it.

[M3FSQ]

Connections.... as in the RCA cables, speaker wire? What about the grounding wire and the REM wire? those too? Thanks

[Fjord]

You should try it with the bare minimum that it can turn on. I'm not quite sure what it takes, but the speaker wires aren't needed at least.

I don't have any special skill with amplifiers... this is just a general fault-isolation technique. Remove things looking for the fault to go away. If it does, it's something you removed. If it doesn't it's something that's left. It's a simple but effective way of slicing up problems.