specs on FI subs

[slim2fattycake 85]

i saw somewhere someone said they got a 15 btl pushin a little ova 3000rms. how is that when the specs say 2000rms?

[BKOLFO4 29]

2000 is the safe thermal power rating. It is actually possible to mechanically damage the sub with less power depending on the box deisgn (this is true with ANY sub).

Many people, like myself, are push much more. Just have to know what you are doing and know how to recognize when you are actually pushing them past their limit.

Many people also have 2000+ watt amps, but with impedance rise, poor vehicle electrical systems, etc. do not actually push over 2000 watts to the subs.

Just remember, fried coils and mechanical damage from over excursion are not covered under warranty. . .

Edited November 19, 2007 by BKOLFO4

[slim2fattycake 85]

for example i got 1 ssd 12" DVC all options (supposedly 1200rms)... powered by a hifonic brutus d-class (1200rms). ima wire it for a 1 ohm load. ima do the "big three", and i got a high output alternator installed (130amps). so what do you think i will be pushing? o n plz excuse my language i am a newbie at this lol. im tryin my best to make it sound technical.

[creatormass 1]

Depending on how your sub was built, it could be made to handle more power. I bought a pair of 10" BL's for SPL, the rating says 1000 watts rms, but I had them built to handle much more. They should be able to handle as much as 5000 watts each on a quick burp. I've been pushing over 2000 watts to each with no issues yet.

[slim2fattycake 85]

how am i suppose to know how much power i can give it? i got all the options added for the sub when i ordered it.

[buickid 0]

What options did you order, and what sub? The power you give your sub is ultimately up to you and how comfortable you feel pushing it. Also, there are other factors, such as how you have your gains set. If you have your gains set to clip like crazy, you have a lot less leeway. If everything is setup good though, the BTLs are beasts.

[jonbearsmt 919]

so say i have 2 15 fi bl's fully loaded no extream lead, 200 amp alt, 3 yellow tops all 0 gauge, my box is 6 ft vented tuned at 33 hrz, 1 ohm on a sundown 3000, for music, where would YOU say i should set my gain, with my H/u up 3/4's of the way to peak??

and how would u know the subs are clipping?

[jonbearsmt 919]

rather how would I know if the subs are clipping

[buickid 0]

You can hear clipping when it gets to a certain level. A much more accurate way is to use an oscilloscope to look at the signals coming out of the amp. Thats the scientific way of going about it. For most people setting gains by ear will work fine, if you're smart about it.

And yes, you turn your HU about 3/4 of the way up, or some other point that you remember not to go above. 3/4 is generally safe, and the HU shouldn't be clipping. Clipping anywhere in the system isn't good, whether it be the HU or amp.

So basically, you turn your HU to about 3/4s, then play a test tone from a CD or iPod or something, then, starting from the lowest point, turn the gains on the amp up until you hear clipping, at which point you stop turning the gains up, and perhaps even back it off a tiny bit. Then just remember not to exceed the level that you set the gains at.

Clipping should manifest itself as a change in tone.

Edited November 26, 2007 by SteveSan

[slim2fattycake 85]

i got one SSD 12" dual 2 ohms, coppercoil and bp power, 130 amp alternator, 4 awg wires, i already got an amp for it the hifonic brutus class d 1200 rms watt. some are saying that you can push 2000+ watts outta these subs. i havent installed the amp and sub yet, i just got another amp and components installed right now.

[Jybfan04 1]

i got one SSD 12" dual 2 ohms, coppercoil and bp power, 130 amp alternator, 4 awg wires, i already got an amp for it the hifonic brutus class d 1200 rms watt. some are saying that you can push 2000+ watts outta these subs. i havent installed the amp and sub yet, i just got another amp and components installed right now.

someone told u a tad bit of a fib...

i wouldnt give them more than 1400 watts unless they had the flatwoud coil...

[JimJ 11]

rather how would I know if the subs are clipping

It's not the subs that are clipping, it's the amp(s).

Also, just because a sub is rated for a certain amount of power, doesn't mean you need to give it that amount of power. I think too many people here fall into a trap of thinking that they need to run at or above the RMS rating...

[slim2fattycake 85]

i got one SSD 12" dual 2 ohms, coppercoil and bp power, 130 amp alternator, 4 awg wires, i already got an amp for it the hifonic brutus class d 1200 rms watt. some are saying that you can push 2000+ watts outta these subs. i havent installed the amp and sub yet, i just got another amp and components installed right now.

someone told u a tad bit of a fib...

i wouldnt give them more than 1400 watts unless they had the flatwoud coil...

so how much more of 1400 watt would i get if i were to ge tthe flatwound?