Best orientation for amplifier mounting

[Mikeski]

David,

Can you shed your expert opinion on this subject?

I always try to orient my amps up/down so they chimny the heat away from the ICs, not sideways like I frequently see in amp pictures. I know that JL and Zapco have some different heat sink configurations that do better in this orientation but I think most amps should be rotated 90 degrees.

[wetsounds1]

RE: Best orientation for amplifier mounting

I jumped in on the other post. I think the best answer is going to be it depends on the amp itself. Our SYN amps can mount either way with no issues. I know the JL Slash has the sink on top so horizontal is good. The Audison SRX amps have the sink on top so again horizontal. Some of the new full range class d amps can go either way etc...

Tim
Wet Sounds

[EarmarkMarine]

RE: Best orientation for amplifier mounting

Mike, I agree that vertical orientation is generally the best. Some amplifiers, like Boston Acoustics, have all the power supply and output transistors down one long side so its best to mount this amplifier horizontally with this one side upwards. Some, but not all, fan-cooled amplifiers have very little heat sink mass and the orientation is less critical. Some amplifiers have the heat sink on the bottom with only a cover shroud on top so spacing these amplifiers off their mounting surface would be most effective. Alpine PDX amplifiers function best mounted flat on their bottom but generally thats impractical in a boat. If the amplifier has an extruded heatsink on top then it should never be mounted upside down. Generally you would like to see mounting orientation following the direction of the heatsink extrusion. In some cases where the wiring loom could be a drip source or there are other overhead sources of water, drink holders for example, you may elect to protect the amplifier by placing the vents to the sides.

Amplifier orientation should be carefully considred during the planning stage. Amplifiers vary. Heat dissipation should rank as a top priority, especially since amplifiers in a boat tend to get a much harder workout than in a vehicle. Every installation may have its own extenuating circumstances though.

David
Earmark Marine

[Brianinpdx]

Mounting orientation is definitely dependent on an amplifiers heat sink orientation. Technically you get the best air flow when the fins on the heat sink are oriented vertically so that as heat rises is creates convection currents over the heat sink in the direction of maximum surface area. In the case where one end of the heat sink gets hotter than another it is best to orient the hottest end at the top so it does not heat the cooler air as it passes up through the heat sink fins. This can depend on the amplifier design and also how the amplifier is loaded. The only direction you absolutely do not want to mount the amplifier is upside down where the heat of the metal mass would rise back onto itself.

How well an amplifier performs in any given mounting position gets dependent on many tek things which can get complicated fast. Best to save that for a different thread.

-Brian