Easiest way to hook a amp up in a car?

[Sniper82]

Curious what the easiest way to hook a amp up in a car is? Anyone know a site with detailed instructions?

Thx

 

[techfuzz]

Connect ground wire (typically brown or black and large gauge) to frame of the car securely. Then connect remote power wire (typically blue and small gauge) to head unit (CD/DVD/MP3 player in-dash). Lastly, connect power wire (typically red, large gauge, and has in-line fuse) to positive terminal on the car battery.

techfuzz

 

[whiteboy81]

Originally posted by: techfuzz
Connect ground wire (typically brown or black and large gauge) to frame of the car securely. Then connect remote power wire (typically blue and small gauge) to head unit (CD/DVD/MP3 player in-dash). Lastly, connect power wire (typically red, large gauge, and has in-line fuse) to positive terminal on the car battery.

techfuzz

Your forgetting to hook up the RCA's to both the headunit and the amp.

Installing an amp isn't all that complex, just make sure you have wire which is of a high enough gauge...my rule of thumb is anything over 500 Watts RMS or 1000 peak should be connected with 4 gauge wire.

If you really don't have any knowledge about these things I strongly suggest you don't do it yourself...let a shop do it for you. You should be able to get an amp installed (wiring kit included) for $70 or so. Typically a kit alone will cost you at least $30 anyway. If you install it yourself and mess up...you can easily blow your amp and be out some dinero.

 

[Sniper82]

Originally posted by: whiteboy81

Originally posted by: techfuzz
Connect ground wire (typically brown or black and large gauge) to frame of the car securely. Then connect remote power wire (typically blue and small gauge) to head unit (CD/DVD/MP3 player in-dash). Lastly, connect power wire (typically red, large gauge, and has in-line fuse) to positive terminal on the car battery.

techfuzz

Your forgetting to hook up the RCA's to both the headunit and the amp.

Installing an amp isn't all that complex, just make sure you have wire which is of a high enough gauge...my rule of thumb is anything over 500 Watts RMS or 1000 peak should be connected with 4 gauge wire.

If you really don't have any knowledge about these things I strongly suggest you don't do it yourself...let a shop do it for you. You should be able to get an amp installed (wiring kit included) for $70 or so. Typically a kit alone will cost you at least $30 anyway. If you install it yourself and mess up...you can easily blow your amp and be out some dinero.

Well I ain't a complete moron. I do get what your saying though. I've hooked up car CD players with and without(older cars) wiring harness. My main concern is the cars electronics more than blowing the amp. What if there are 2 hot wires? So if I hook the blue wire up to my car CD player it will power the amp up when I power the CD player up and turn it off once the CD player is turned off?

 

[MikeMike]

yes that is how it works sniper.

the ground of the amp should be on the frame of the car, on an unpainted surface. one of the best sposts actually happens to be a seat belt mount location, just scratch sum paint off.

MIKE

 

[Sniper82]

when running the main power wire to the positive on the battery whats the best way to run it? Go in-behind the dash? Or is that the only way? Does it have to go straight to the battery?

 

[Ness]

Originally posted by: ^Sniper^

Originally posted by: whiteboy81

Originally posted by: techfuzz
Connect ground wire (typically brown or black and large gauge) to frame of the car securely. Then connect remote power wire (typically blue and small gauge) to head unit (CD/DVD/MP3 player in-dash). Lastly, connect power wire (typically red, large gauge, and has in-line fuse) to positive terminal on the car battery.

techfuzz

Your forgetting to hook up the RCA's to both the headunit and the amp.

Installing an amp isn't all that complex, just make sure you have wire which is of a high enough gauge...my rule of thumb is anything over 500 Watts RMS or 1000 peak should be connected with 4 gauge wire.

If you really don't have any knowledge about these things I strongly suggest you don't do it yourself...let a shop do it for you. You should be able to get an amp installed (wiring kit included) for $70 or so. Typically a kit alone will cost you at least $30 anyway. If you install it yourself and mess up...you can easily blow your amp and be out some dinero.

Well I ain't a complete moron. I do get what your saying though. I've hooked up car CD players with and without(older cars) wiring harness. My main concern is the cars electronics more than blowing the amp. What if there are 2 hot wires? So if I hook the blue wire up to my car CD player it will power the amp up when I power the CD player up and turn it off once the CD player is turned off?

There should be a specific spot to hook the blue wire up to on your head unit. Some head units will flip the power to it on automatically, some will have a button or option to turn it on and off. Usually the spot to hook the wire up to is labelled "remote".

 

[whiteboy81]

Originally posted by: ^Sniper^

Originally posted by: whiteboy81

Originally posted by: techfuzz
Connect ground wire (typically brown or black and large gauge) to frame of the car securely. Then connect remote power wire (typically blue and small gauge) to head unit (CD/DVD/MP3 player in-dash). Lastly, connect power wire (typically red, large gauge, and has in-line fuse) to positive terminal on the car battery.

techfuzz

Your forgetting to hook up the RCA's to both the headunit and the amp.

Installing an amp isn't all that complex, just make sure you have wire which is of a high enough gauge...my rule of thumb is anything over 500 Watts RMS or 1000 peak should be connected with 4 gauge wire.

If you really don't have any knowledge about these things I strongly suggest you don't do it yourself...let a shop do it for you. You should be able to get an amp installed (wiring kit included) for $70 or so. Typically a kit alone will cost you at least $30 anyway. If you install it yourself and mess up...you can easily blow your amp and be out some dinero.

Well I ain't a complete moron. I do get what your saying though. I've hooked up car CD players with and without(older cars) wiring harness. My main concern is the cars electronics more than blowing the amp. What if there are 2 hot wires? So if I hook the blue wire up to my car CD player it will power the amp up when I power the CD player up and turn it off once the CD player is turned off?

The cars electronics shouldn't be of too much concern, the fuses are set really low and will blow quickly if they get a surge...don't worry about that. The power wire does have to be run directly to the battery and what was said above about the ground being to an unpainted solid source (ie seatbelt bolt) is also extremely important.

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: whiteboy81

Originally posted by: ^Sniper^

Originally posted by: whiteboy81

Originally posted by: techfuzz
Connect ground wire (typically brown or black and large gauge) to frame of the car securely. Then connect remote power wire (typically blue and small gauge) to head unit (CD/DVD/MP3 player in-dash). Lastly, connect power wire (typically red, large gauge, and has in-line fuse) to positive terminal on the car battery.

techfuzz

Your forgetting to hook up the RCA's to both the headunit and the amp.

Installing an amp isn't all that complex, just make sure you have wire which is of a high enough gauge...my rule of thumb is anything over 500 Watts RMS or 1000 peak should be connected with 4 gauge wire.

If you really don't have any knowledge about these things I strongly suggest you don't do it yourself...let a shop do it for you. You should be able to get an amp installed (wiring kit included) for $70 or so. Typically a kit alone will cost you at least $30 anyway. If you install it yourself and mess up...you can easily blow your amp and be out some dinero.

Well I ain't a complete moron. I do get what your saying though. I've hooked up car CD players with and without(older cars) wiring harness. My main concern is the cars electronics more than blowing the amp. What if there are 2 hot wires? So if I hook the blue wire up to my car CD player it will power the amp up when I power the CD player up and turn it off once the CD player is turned off?

The cars electronics shouldn't be of too much concern, the fuses are set really low and will blow quickly if they get a surge...don't worry about that. The power wire does have to be run directly to the battery and what was said above about the ground being to an unpainted solid source (ie seatbelt bolt) is also extremely important.

Also, don't forget to put a fuse in the hot wire within 12" of the battery.

 

[Sniper82]

thx all. It sounds extremely easy to hookup. But now my concern is how do I run the hot wire all the way to the battery from the trunk? I am guessing I am gonna have to take the dash apart to do so?

 

[Doodoo]

Usually theres a whole somewhere in the firewall. Just pull back the carpet on either the driver side or passenger side footwell and you'll see it. After that just run it down the side of the car into the trunk...though some people like to run it down the middle. Just keep the power wire on the opposite side of the RCA's.

 

[Sniper82]

Originally posted by: Doodoo
Usually theres a whole somewhere in the firewall. Just pull back the carpet on either the driver side or passenger side footwell and you'll see it. After that just run it down the side of the car into the trunk...though some people like to run it down the middle. Just keep the power wire on the opposite side of the RCA's.

thx I'll do that

 

[Fiveohhh]

Originally posted by: ^Sniper^

Originally posted by: Doodoo
Usually theres a whole somewhere in the firewall. Just pull back the carpet on either the driver side or passenger side footwell and you'll see it. After that just run it down the side of the car into the trunk...though some people like to run it down the middle. Just keep the power wire on the opposite side of the RCA's.

thx I'll do that

make sure its not a bare metal hole put some sort of grommet in it or it will end up slicing through the insulation and shorting out(hopefully you put a fuse before that).

 

[Sniper82]

Originally posted by: Fiveohhh

Originally posted by: ^Sniper^

Originally posted by: Doodoo
Usually theres a whole somewhere in the firewall. Just pull back the carpet on either the driver side or passenger side footwell and you'll see it. After that just run it down the side of the car into the trunk...though some people like to run it down the middle. Just keep the power wire on the opposite side of the RCA's.

thx I'll do that

make sure its not a bare metal hole put some sort of grommet in it or it will end up slicing through the insulation and shorting out(hopefully you put a fuse before that).

sure thing thx for the quick thinking.