How NOT to do car audio: Melting fuse holders.

Learn how to select the correct size wire: • Car Audio Power Wire: ...
Recommended Wire: lddy.no/1gosu
Recommended Fuse Holder: lddy.no/1i2vn
Thermal Camera: amzn.to/46n03Mb
If you found this video helpful then you can support the channel on Patreon for as little as $3 a month: / diyaudioguy
In this video I show you how not to way install your fuse holder and use a thermal camera to show just how little it takes to melt your car audio fuse holder when you install it incorrectly.
Exclusive Discount Codes for DIY Audio Guy fans:
10% off at NVX.com (nvx.com/?ref=n_3Nr6MdZIar-d) with the code DIYAUDIO10
10% off of Custom Speaker Pods (customspeakerpods.com/) with the code DIYAG
5% off from Battery Hookup (batteryhookup.com) with the code DIYAudio
5% off at Parts Express (parts-express.sjv.io/3PGnNr) with the Code DIY5
10% off at Jag35 (jag35.com/DIYaudio) with the code DIYAUDIO
Check out the DIY Auido Guy Amazon Store:
Amazon: www.amazon.com/shop/diyaudioguy
Support DIY audio content by shopping with these affiliates:
Shop for Car Audio at NVX: nvx.com/?ref=n_3Nr6MdZIar-d
Shop for Basshead Gear at Down4Sound: lddy.no/1065t
Shop for Car and Home Audio at Crutchfield: howl.me/cg9bCOKLoK7
Shop for Car Audio at Sonic Electronix: bit.ly/3bazPBs
Shop for whole-house auido at Arylic: www.arylic.com?aff=79
DIY Audio Merch: my-store-b3f136.creator-sprin...
Funny Car Audio T-Shirts: maxxpoweraudio.com
Connect on social media:
Facebook: / diy-audio-guy-11142806...
Instagram: / diyaudioguy
Twitter: / diyaudioguy1
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
Music By creatormix.com
*As an associate/affiliate marketer I may earn a small commission on qualified purchases on Amazon, Crutchfield, Parts Express, Sonic Electronix, NVX, customspeakerpods.com, Arylic or Down4Sound.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

To learn more about power wire click here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/anObZ4aerd-UqJosi=dnl5s8yWFoTochiP

[@UnFallen117]

what's your top 3 go to songs to play on your system right now?

[@mrscott3500]

Its crazy how much I see these mistakes done! I always enjoy watching you videos 😀

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Thanks for watching!

[@JasonWW2000]

One of the big takeaways was just how hot the undersized crappy wire got. When your power wire is heating up to that extent it directly drops the amount of voltage that you're amp is getting. I've heard stories of how people have actually got CCA wire so hot that it burned/melted the underside of their carpet. 😮

[@DIYAudioGuy]

That surprised me as well.

[@BassnBeezy]

Bruh, my CCA wire last year almost melted a hole in my battery. Was smoking and everything. I’ll never use CCA again.

[@RJSDZNS]

This was such an awesome video Justin! So many new car audio folks should make this a 101 video!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Absolutely! I was a bit bummed out that I didn't get a more extreme result.

[@RJSDZNS]

@DIYAudioGuy Yeah but I think you made a good point either way!

[@2011joser]

I had a wired atc fuse holder melt on my first serious install 35 years ago. It was the only lesson I needed on going cheap on electrical.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

I am glad it was just the fuse holder and nothing more.

[@2011joser]

@@DIYAudioGuy It was only running about 230 watts rms through it and it was at the battery. Around the same time a friend had to pull over mid drive to yank the power power wire off the battery because his only main fuse was in the trunk . It had shorted to ground somewhere near the rear seat of his mustang and he ended up with a smoke in the cabin situation. Him and the car were fine.

[@d77543020]

This kind of lets you know how hard it should be to melt these fuses

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Right!

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

Justin is so awesome that even when he's trying to cause a catastrophic failure, he can't! I learned a few things watching this video, thanks Justin! Maybe if I keep watching your vids I'll get up the courage to do a sub in my car. Big 'if' though.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Looking back I should have pulled my JP23 out of the truck. I'm pretty that monster amp would have pulled enough current to get the job done. When you're ready to do a car sub let me know.

[@roadlife9312]

I don't like them because there's to many loose parts. Most of the time it's poor instalation, and or cheap wire... good video

[@DIYAudioGuy]

I guess if you have more parts it's more opportunities to make a mistake.

[@roadlife9312]

@DIYAudioGuy that and there in a vehicle bouncing around. I prefer a ANL style less moving parts. I've been running circuit breakers on my personal vehicles.

[@JasonWW2000]

​@@roadlife9312Be aware that circuit breakers can be a lot less reliable when it comes to disconnecting the circuit in case of an overload. If I were to use one, I would only use it for the convenience of disconnecting power whenever I wanted to. I would still run a traditional fuse inline with it. 👍

[@roadlife9312]

@JasonWW2000 had them in four different vehicles never had a problem..🤔🤔 I get some time might load test a couple

[@joescott5558]

I use to have that same kenwood amp it was solid as could be should have never got rid of mine, cool video!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Yep, it took some abuse in this video.

[@Abowe3404]

Set screw style fuse holders with no ferrule or blue thread locker guarentee to fail those agu fuse holders are an even worse connection😉 this is a great experiment great job Justin!

[@bugg5011]

Ambient Temperatures, Engine Heat, and Fuse Placement, also Play a Big Part in it.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Yep

[@ksavage681]

I always use good ANL fuse holders, not those cheap round ones.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

I've used both, they both have their place. You just have to be careful.

[@johnnytyrell2010]

What do you think of spartan 300 amp fuse holder for alternator to battery fuse?

[@mechmanalternators]

This was great and share worthy on our media accounts. Thank you!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Thanks!

[@beakerwsw]

I had one of these from a skar 4awg kit fail, my issue is the fuse should have blown. It was a JL audio slash 1000.1. it was wired at 1.5 ohm fuse 4 inches and the run was only about 7 feet. Crimped with a hydraulic crimper.

[@user-mt9de5wt5y]

I the future not that you ever would fo it again split the wire in to two down the middle twisting each separately like a snake tongue and go on both sides of the screw.

[@dlcarburetor]

This was a cool video idea

[@jamesfalvey77]

How about doing another test with that same type fuse holder with "better" connections and not a "worst case scenario" ?

[@northsider4957]

What's 4 and 8 gauge wire?

[@christianfirst3180]

Love this video it’s very helpful. Also my 1000 watt peak amp get very hot to the touch and sometimes goes into protection mode if too hot I have a 1200 watt peak sun but don’t run it that high. How can I keep this from happening?

[@DIYAudioGuy]

I'm not very good at troubleshooting. So I'm not 100% sure what to tell you. Check all of your connections. Consider upgrading your electrical system, if your voltage drops then your amp will have to draw more current to make power. That will generate heat. Make sure you're not clipping. Beyond that it could simply be that you're driving the amplifier too hard and you might need to turn things down a little bit. You might also consider upgrading the amplifier.

[@christianfirst3180]

@@DIYAudioGuy I was considering getting a stronger amp at 1500 watts instead of 1000. Thank you!

[@scamchan]

Time to get a fan to keep the amp cool and make sure you have clearance all around the amp so air can circulate. Mine would go shut down with summer heat Once I lifted it off the floor and added the fan it can play all day no matter how hot it gets outside.

[@mahdimagarre1236]

Hello What's the output of an amplifier is for?? I have 2inputs and 2outputs on my Rockville Amp. So what's the Output for?? Thank you

[@DIYAudioGuy]

The outputs are for connecting a second amplifier. Check the owner's manual for specifics.

[@mahdimagarre1236]

@@DIYAudioGuy Thank you

[@DIYhyfy]

New video on a Sunday! Does it get any better?

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Nothing quite like watching KZbin on a Sunday.

[@bobbybyrkett7751]

Justin yea back in the day the glass fuses would fail due to getting so hot the solder would wick away

[@DIYAudioGuy]

I was kind of shocked that this one didn't fail.

[@BudgetGroundPounder]

How to install the wire with out a terminal. Take the wire then make a V with the end with the exposed wire. Then slide it in & tighten it down.

[@JasonWW2000]

I believe it just looked like the wire was pulling out of the fuse holder because the insulation got so hot that it started to shrink and pull away.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Right, so you end up with an exposed wire under the hood. Not exactly safe.

[@scamchan]

Wow great video. I can imagine this with 2000+ watt system would fry that fuse holder

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Yes, definitely

[@LatvianVideo]

You also could have monitored the voltage to see just how much loss the cable and fuse were generating

[@DIYAudioGuy]

I did not think about that until after I uploaded the video.

[@eliavedri7876]

Here is an interesting question, If my amplifier requires 120 amps, what would be better? 4 gauge OFC (150 amps) or 0 gauge CCA (200 amps)? Will I lose watts with CCA?

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Both will carry the required current, but the CCA is more likely to corrode.

[@eliavedri7876]

@@DIYAudioGuy I see... There is almost a $30 difference between knukonceptz Bassik 0 gauge and Kolossus 4 gauge amp kit, Bassik 0 gauge kit is cheaper.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

@@eliavedri7876 I think the bassik is CCA, get OFC.

[@eliavedri7876]

@@DIYAudioGuy Yes I know it's CCA, that's why I asked the question earlier, simply the kolossus 4 gauge is almost double the price of Bassik 0 gauge, maybe I'll stretch my budget and buy the Kolossus

[@DIYAudioGuy]

@@eliavedri7876 as long as you're aware of the pros and cons feel free to spend your money in the most efficient way. You will get people that will hate on the CCA. I'm not one of them. Personally I would buy the 4 gauge.

[@gulag_inmate69]

Agu is trash i have just get a mini anl. You can hook up the fuse completely correct and still melt the agu fuses

[@mattp8375]

Most cases I’ve ever seen of fuse holders burning up is from cheap wire like CCA it’s no where near as good as OFC and it corrodes easily and gets very brittle easily when you are drawing current through say a 1/0 CCA wire it’s not even close to the capability of 1/0 OFC and people are trying to use it on amps that need a true 1/0 OFC wire to carry the current that’s required me personally todays amp wire is overpriced junk I stick to welding cable it never corrodes and has never failed thermally

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Copper is the way to go.

[@mahdimagarre1236]

I usually use electrical copper wire. Is fine and never ever overhead.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

As long as the wire is big enough to handle the load it works.

[@soundman_caraudio]

🙌🙌🙌

[@DIYAudioGuy]

👍

[@sermac3246]

👍

[@UnFallen117]

what's your top 3 go to songs to play on your system right now?

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Hard to say, I listen to a lot of different music. For Bass I like Bass Mechanik and Techmaster PEB.

[@strassafrass1]

MAX POWAAAAAAR

[@DIYAudioGuy]

MAXXXX Power!

[@vrskt]

G Pixel ♥

[@DIYAudioGuy]

I have been using pixels for a while now -- mostly because they are not loaded with Samsung bloatware.

[@Shreddylife]

You don't know how people wire amps up without terminals? It's easy, watch me 😆

[@TrunkThunderLithium]

Now add rhe under hood enfine bay heat on top of a shitty connection. Kiss it goodnye. An remember. You ran it low. Someones can push their amp bye bye fuze holder

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Absolutely

[@mullinperformanceaudio5902]

I dont know what I have seen more, melted fuse holders or melted (+) on amps.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

I was shocked how fast the loose connection heated up.

[@scamchan]

@@DIYAudioGuy I use circuit breaker myself no time to keep buying fuses.

[@OmitZz]

Split your wire in half and make a fork, bud.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Yep.

[@Mrdrdxse]

Or just use an ANL fuse???

[@DIYAudioGuy]

You can still melt an ANL fuse block. The loose connection is the issue not the fuse.

[@Chris-B-Bassin]

I'm running that exact fuse holder on my 200.4 with a 60a fuse, funny the amp calls for 200a fuse but it's never popped lol

[@DIYAudioGuy]

If it works then it works. And there's nothing at all wrong with this style of use holder for this style of fuse, as long as the connections are solid you should be fine. Never hurts to check them periodically.

[@lakorai2]

AGU sucks. Go ANL, Midi or Maxi

[@uroszeleznik5144]

this glass fuse is crap. anl fuse is much better.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

The fuse type does not matter if you do everything else wrong.

[@kontrollme9034]

Literally yesterday I was made asf because I went to a car meet and had no music🤦🏾‍♂️ no dembow🥲 literally my fuse melted and some of the power wire got cooked, I have 4 gauge ds18 wire but maybe I need to go to 0 gauge because I’m running over 2500 watts all together

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Yes, you need a bigger wire!