I will use simple language no techie talk I promise. Then, the system will restart itself. Sometimes replacing the existing RCA patch wires can also fix this problem if you cant find a problem in the above parts.. This includes the remote wire, RCA's, speaker wire, and both the ground and power wire. don't worry I've got tons of cool tips to help you out of any jam. If the outlet shows less than 12V, there can be multiple factors behind it. When you purchase through one of our links we may earn an affiliate commission (at no extra cost to you). Take a small piece of wire and jump the battery positive terminal of the amp to the ground terminal. Leave the receiver on for 30 seconds. Enjoy! If the amp only goes into protect when one particular speaker is connected to the amp, you have a defective speaker. The pressed reset button will make the stereo get out of the reset mode. Replace a speaker if you have replaced its wiring and your receiver is still going into protection mode. Resetting Amplifier Protection Circuitry, Updated 2 years ago For a single subwoofer, its easy. it is the most common issue in some Kenwood car stereos. You should troubleshoot the problem and fix it right away. Turn the receiver on and turn the volume to the maximum setting. For instance, if you have connected an external amplifier to the stereo and it stops working, it might also make your Kenwood car stereo go into protect mode. After repair, you can clear NG CH information by following the steps below. Just check which sequence the light is blinking in, look in the manual to see what it means, then skip ahead to where we talk about solutions. Sometimes the protect light turns on for two seconds when the amp does, like a check engine light, and then shuts off. If this solution doesn't fix the problem, continue with troubleshooting and reset the receiver after each step. Disconnect all speakers; check for temperature issues; unplug head unit; check ground connection; make sure all cables are secure; adjust impedance load; resets gains knobs if necessary etc. If the amp doesnt receive the power it needs, it will fail to turn on or stay in protect mode to prevent damage. Don't worry my blog is here to help you cut through the noise! Press the On!Standby key while pressing the Enter key. With multiple cables running together, there is always a higher risk of voltage drop which could lead to short circuits or other electrical problems. You did not tell us if you got out of the protect mode or if you need help with that. If you find that your Kenwood stereo has gone into protect mode, the first thing youll want to do is reset it. The protect cause are displayed for 5 seconds. I have CONNECT a pair of tower speaker that never used or test BEFORE, Do you think that speaker can blow a power transistor and display now protect on display, oldturkey03 If it doesnt have a light, you need to go through the manual to figure out if the amp is in protect mode. Amplifier protection mode is a shutdown state that car amps may enter in certain situations. Fuses are designed to guard against any electrical surges and shut off power before serious damage can occur. Most car amps voltage rating is 12V. When protected by current detection, and no problem found, "CHECK SP WIRE will be displayed in this State, Only the On/Standby key is effective. Lets take a deeper look into the mentioned problems and their fixes below. How To Install Speakers in Car Trunk: Guide. Check all the speakers and subwoofers to make sure that your amp can handle the total impedance load. However, Ive seen some amps also that require you to disconnect the lines for a few hours to perform a reset, like Skar amps. Any indication of a failure in the amp shuts it down, preventing damage to your speakers, power transistors and stereo. Check Affiliate Disclosure, By This is pretty basicall cables should be secured firmly. Lastly, in the case of the wrong installation, you need to eject the device and try reinstalling it. Posted on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 15:53 GMT. There are no universal ways to determine if your amp is in protective mode. All cables should be routed safely away from any moving parts within your vehicles engine bay before being securely fastened down with zip ties or other suitable means that prevent them from becoming loose over time due to vibration caused by driving on bumpy road surfaces for example. Let it cool down for a while. It generally happens between lightning strikes and thunderstorms. Though its unusual, you might witness your amp switches to protect mode in the cold season. This can also happen if youve old and worn-out power cables. And if you cant find any of the issues, the cable is probably worn away. This is also a good time to make sure that the amp is not directly touching the metal of the car at any point. If one of them is indeed blown or grounded to a metal part of the vehicle, the amp is probably sensing a connection that overheats easily and goes into protection mode to prevent damage. His other interests include astronomy, hiking, and fishing. Welcome to the Ultimate Guide on How to Fix Kenwood Protect Mode! @flamini yes it is possible. As with the circuit breaker analogy, if you follow the proper steps, youll have your amp working again in no time. If it is red or orange, the amp is in protect mode. You can switch your amplifier to make your stereo function again. Hey, I'm Danny, and I know how hard it can be to find the perfect audio gear. Power Surges: 3. Using only one power cable protects both components from prematurely failing due to too much amperage being put through each device. Ensure that each wire is covered properly. One way to prevent your stereo from being overloaded is by using a power amplifier. Improper grounding can cause a fire in the cable lines or permanently damage the amp and connected devices like subwoofers and speakers. If it works then you definitely need to upgrade your amp to a more powerful one. No, you should not drive your car with the stereo in protect mode. As a result, its stuck in the protect mode. To solve a grounding problem, clean your grounding wires, then reattach them more tightly to a location in your car where youre certain they wont rattle loose. Both amplifiers and subwoofers have separate circuits. Still, the problem isnt fixed! Here are some reasons why your Kenwood stereo is in protection mode. Ventet 2 timer. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Basically, this happens because the amount of power being drawn from the source outlet (engine batteries) and what the amp can handle are different. We're sharing the best car audio equipment and car seats so you can make the right choice. This can be done by pressing and holding the power button for about 10 seconds. The boring but practical answer is to read your amps owners manual. Use the red probe on the multimeter to check the voltage on each of the amps ports. See also:5 Different Types of Car Fuses (with Pictures). When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. The following reset method cleans the amps internal memory, except the amps system settings. Doing this will force your Kenwood system to start rebooting. Dec 14, 2019 by An amp protect mode is the latest safety feature in a contemporary vehicle sound system. This is a case where a problem has been detected and the unit shuts down to prevent further damage to either the receiver or the speakers. So, you need to get professional help to replace the wires. Look through the owners manual to be sure of the amps status. Make sure to do this one by one to avoid overheating the leads. Unplug the Head Unit 4. Car Tech Trends relies on readers. There are two reasons why the amp goes into protection when you turn it on. The unit will have to sit, completely disconnected, for several hours. When the radio is in code request mode, you can reset it by pressing and holding either the down or up volume keys for about 3 seconds, and the error display will disappear. 7 Possible Reasons. How to get my amp out of protection mode? This might be the first time or it has happened before no matter if you can fix it by yourself without taking your car to a dealership or to a grease monkey. Regardless of the type of reason, you can easily fix your stereo by using this guide. How to Get an Amp Out of Protection Mode Easy Steps to Follow, Troubleshooting Protect Mode in Amplifiers, Conclusions on How to Get an Amp Out of Protection Mode, How do you fix an amp in protection mode (. Find a small "Reset" button on the stereo. 969K views 5 years ago #kenwoodprotectmode, #protectoff today we fix the Kenwood model kdc-4047u USB model. Do not ignore it as it might become a bigger problem later. Once you remove the front panel, you will see a reset button. Based on the described symptom: 1. this model has two (2) power supplies; a standby for housekeeping and logic controller which powers the relay that switches on the main power supply. Its usually a triangular-shaped button thats always illuminated and locating it is easy. For help on starting a warranty claim, please check out our Skar Audio Warranty article. If it changes to red, meaning the amp entered the protection mode. Learn more. All rights reserved. And once done correctly, you should expect nothing but clean and powerful sound from your amplifier again! When the stereo is in protect mode, you will not be able to hear any audio. When judged as there is a problem on any channel, the information of channel that has a problem will be displayed. Thank you! For example, a defective transistor, power load, overheating, and wrong impedance loads any of these can initiate the problem. Turn on the stereo again after updating the firmware. If none of the methods seems to work, get help from a dealer. Whether its the cable, fuse, or other parts, you must replace it to fix the issue. It will be short I promise. If youve tried everything but your amp is still in protection mode, it is time to accept defeat and head to the repair shop. Due to the high operating temperature, the Kenwood stereo system takes it as a threat and makes itself go into protection mode. If you shot off your car and wait to cool it off and the amp goes out of protect mode then theres a temperature issue. Running the home audio device in a poorly ventilated cabinet can trigger the protection circuit. If the amp is designed to take 2 ohms and it is hooked to speakers with a capacity of 4 ohms, the amp detects low impedance and tries to measure up to it. Last Updated on February 5, 2023 by Danny Reid. If overheating is the problem, attaching a fan to your amp might also extend its life. After all, electronics dont like heat, and the high operating temperature may trigger Kenwoods protect mode. Sam_Catch / CC BY 2.0 / Flickr. How to fix protection mode on your home amp Colt Codner 90 subscribers Subscribe 106K views 6 years ago How to fix your Sony home amp without spending any money It's cable reimagined No DVR. Thus, amplifiers come with a fail-safe to protect other components of your sound system. For example, if your car amp has this feature, itll shut down the unit if an overload or short circuit is detected. Because of wrong voltage ratings, an amp also goes into the protect mode. If everything is connected properly, then the next thing youll want to check is the settings. You need to reset the mode in such a situation. Does Skar Audio Exchange or Upgrade Items? Check the Temperature of the Amp 3. You just have to play a little with the preset potentiometer. The process to get your amp out of the protection mode is a bit complicated, yet it can be done. - Updated To do so, use a wrench to remove the bolt first. How Long Does a Dryer Last? Itll keep the leads harmless during liquifying the solders. Itll take a reset. To reset the Kenwood stereo, you should do the following: The first thing you should do is switch on the car audio system. If youre still having trouble getting your stereo out of protected mode, then you may need to take it to a professional for repair. Resetting by unplugging for several minutes can help or change the fuse if needed. In some 1st gen amps, you may not find any indicator light. Well start with the good news. Remove all speaker and audio cables from the back of the receiver while waiting. Once youve removed the stereo unit, take a look at the connections. Several things might cause car amplifiers to enter protection mode: 1) car battery voltage gets too high (or low). Furthermore, running multiple cables will reduce all performance levels because parts of the current cannot flow freely through multiple cables at once. You need a penetrant like the CRC Freeze-off spray. If you want to enjoy good music quality, you have to use an amplifier. When turning the car on you either getting way too much voltage or way too little and to protect the amp itself it goes into the protect mode. - Updated Dont worry, though well walk you through. Amps can go into protect mode for many different reasons such as internal failures like blown fuses or malfunctioning transistors, faulty external components like bad speaker wire wiring, overheating due to poor ventilation and airflow, overwhelmed circuits with mismatched loads between the subwoofers and amplifiers. If that doesnt work, you might need to replace the fuse. And checked the speaker wires also.. Jun 15, 2020 by Next, find out the amps positive (+) post terminal. Upon finding the plug, youve to eject it from the outlet. Brandon Davis Leave the speaker and audio cables disconnected. Regardless of the cause, overheating can have some pretty serious consequences. But if it doesnt work, then you should contact the dealer. If the resistance on your amp doesnt match the resistance on your speakers or head unit, its time to move your amp. Will my package be delayed due to COVID-19? Usually, the wire color is red. Amplifiers need large, well-connected power and ground cables to keep functioning efficiently. These manuals claim that this error can be triggered by overheating or a malfunctioned receiver, so before taking it to the service center, you should try and troubleshoot the problem. If any of them read less than 11V with your cars engine off or 12V with it on, theres a problem with the internal wiring . Solution: Check Compatibility and Get a Replacement. Fascinated by all sort of tools, Pete loves reading and writing about all the latest gadgets and accessories that hit the market. Does Skar Audio offer International Shipping? Then use a multimeter to check the voltage reading of the outlet. Therefore, if you want to learn how to handle a Kenwood radio stuck in protect mode, please read on. Scan-Speak: Rev 18W, Discovery 10F, Illuminator R3004. Press the "Detach" button to take the faceplate off the stereo. For damaged wire, you need to change it. First of all, You should need to check out the power LED light of the car Amp. Dec 26, 2009. Since its a complete technical discussion, make sure to go through all sections. Remember, when your amp detects that the connected devices are under too much stress, it attempts to revert to their default settings. There can be many reasons behind the protection mode including overheating, malfunctioning components, or unstable voltage. Otherwise, the source problem may permanently damage your car amplifier. Maryland has the nickname America in Miniature for its diverse population, historic towns and cities, and an abundance of wildlife and plants. Contact Kenwood customer service to have the unit repaired. MPU will judge the amplier circuit is good or not from VOLH value. It can be frustrating to wake up to your new stereo displaying an error message instead of playing your favorite tunes. If fortunately, youre able to start your amp by pushing buttons or plugging in headphones, theres a chance that the issue isnt serious. Next you need to measure the same thing when your turning it on. If youre experiencing any of these issues, your Kenwood car stereo will likely go into protect mode. If you find any issues discussed above, change the wiring to get the stereo out of the protect mode. Want to know what I got to say? new york. The only thing most of them say is that you should take it to the service center. Update Privacy Preferences Over the years, he has developed a keen interest in a wide variety of DIY projects around the home. If thats the case, you can switch off the receiver, let it cool down for a few minutes, and try restarting it again. You see the protect mode is the amplifiers way of protecting itself from some sort of damage. If problem found after repair, please re-check the around of its circuit. Copyright 2023 House Grail. As indicated in the posting above, this can happen for a several reasons. In case of an amp malfunction, make sure that it is not getting too hot or has loose connections. Make sure that all of the connectors are properly connected and that there is no corrosion. The power supply for the amplifier becomes low voltage state and the speaker relay will be turned on. Now check all the speakers. Most amps have a protect light on the amp that switches on whenever the system detects a problem. It is a very necessary process for every music system. To solve a grounding problem, clean your grounding wires, then reattach them more tightly to a location in your car where you're certain they won't rattle loose. This usually means turning off all of the power and resetting all of the settings to their original defaults. - Updated There can be many reasons for an amp overheating like load mismatch, blown or grounded speakers or poor power connection. It majorly happens due to overheating inside the radio. However, these circuits have a correlational function, meaning they transfer power loads among themselves when the devices are turned on. Need a new stereo, amp, speakers, or subs? There are several steps you can take to try and fix a Kenwood protect mode issue. If your amplifier went into protect mode the very first time it was turned on, this gives us an insight into why it was malfunctioning. This process is only advised to follow if youve prior experience in circuit management. . Can a bad ground cause an amp to go into protect mode? The power LED can also be an indicator of the status of the amp. How to Get Amp Out of Protection Mode: 1. Clear NG CH information by following the steps below power it needs, it attempts revert. To do so, you need help with that in Miniature for its diverse population, historic towns cities! Car battery voltage gets too high ( or low ) if you have replaced its and! 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Contemporary vehicle sound system very necessary process for every music system that you not., find out the amps system settings owners manual to be sure of the amp does like! Of damage if youve prior experience in circuit management why your Kenwood stereo. Good music quality, you may not find any of the settings to their default settings likely go into mode! Wire, you must replace it to fix Kenwood protect mode in such a situation internal memory, except amps..., itll shut down the unit will have to use an amplifier keen interest in a contemporary vehicle system! Get your amp switches to protect other components of your sound system from your amplifier make.