How to Install a Car Amp
Installing car audio amplifiers is one of the trickiest things a newbie car audio installer can attempt. Car amp installation requires that all sorts of panels be removed and that various wires be run all over the car. Installing car audio amplifiers is a step by step process which I have outlined here. If you have any questions please contact me by clicking here. Please do not attempt a car amp installation if you are not comfortable with the process. Leave it to a professional. Now here are the steps on how to install a car amp. There is also a wiring diagram below. NOTE: These directions assume you have already physically mounted your amplifier to a solid, non-conductive surface (non-metal). If you have not purchased your power wiring be sure to read this article on choosing wire gauge for amplifiers.
- Determine what side of the vehicle the battery is on. Disconnect the negative battery terminal. If you have a radio with a security feature (such as a Delco-Loc or Eclipse ESN) make sure you know the reactivation code before disconnecting the negative battery terminal.
- Find a spot to run the power wire through the firewall. Try to find an empty rubber grommet that hides an unused factory hole. You can just put a hole in this grommet and run your wire through.
If
there is no factory hole you will need to make one. Get out the power
drill and steel drill bits. Before drilling make sure you know where
the bit will end up once it's through the firewall. I usually make a
small pilot hole and then increase the bit size until the hole is big
enough for my wire. If you have a stepped bit that would be great to
use (see photo). I recommend them highly.- Protect the drilled hole edges from rust with paint or a similar material.
Install
a rubber grommet (see photo) into the hole to protect the wire from
chaffing (VERY IMPORTANT!). Caulk the gap between the inner diameter of the rubber grommet
and the power wire if necessary to prevent water from running down the
wire.- Run the wire from the interior of the vehicle, through the hole and to the battery, being very careful to avoid pinch points and moving parts in the engine bay.
Install
an in-line fuse holder (see photo) for the power wire as close as possible
to the battery terminal connection (the IASCA
rule is within 18"). VERY, VERY IMPORTANT!!!!! This fuse protects
your vehicle from burning up in case of the power wiring shorting out.
The wire between the fuse and the battery terminal will be unprotected,
which is why you want this section to be as short as possible. The fuse
size depends on the current the power wire will carry. Consult the owner's
manual of your amplifier(s) to find out the maximum current draw of
your system. You can also contact the manufacturer and ask them for
that information. For multiple amplifiers you will need to add up the
maximum current draw of each amplifier. Once you know the maximum current
draw you'll know what size fuse to use. For example, if your maximum
current draw is 50 amps then you'll need a 50 amp fuse. Do not insert
the fuse until all other connections are made! Connect the power wire
to the battery using appropriate connectors.- Pull back the carpet in the area you intend to run the power wire. You will need to remove the rocker panel and kick panel covers to do this.
Snake
the power wire to it's final termination point (where your amp will
be mounted). Be careful to avoid any pinch points such as seat tracks/door
jambs, etc. Depending on your application, you can connect the power
wire to the amplifier (using appropriate connectors such as ring terminals,
see photo) or connect it to a power distribution block.
After
you have your power wire run the way you want it, go back and use plastic
wire ties to secure the wire in place. You may want to cover the wire
in the engine compartment with wire loom also(prior to using wire ties).- Now run the RCA cables and remote turn-on lead (typically a blue lead but you will need to check your head unit's manual) from the back of your head unit to your amplifier's mounting location. You will need to follow a process similar to that of the power wire (steps 8 and 9). However, run your RCA cables on the opposite side of vehicle. You do not want to run power wires and signal cables on the same side of the vehicle. This could induce noise into your system. Connect the remote turn-on wire to your amplifier using an appropriate connector (such as a ring terminal). NOTE: The remote turn-on wire is what sends the signal telling your amplifier to turn on. It is a very important wire and your amplifier will not work without it. Click Here if you don't have a remote wire or are using a factory head unit.
- Now run your speaker wires between your amplifier and your speakers. If you need to run wires through the interior of the vehicle, make sure you run them on the same side as the RCA cables. You do not want to run power wires and speaker wires on the same side of the vehicle. This could induce noise into your system although it is less likely than picking up noise through the RCA cables..
Connect
the speaker wires to your amplifier using appropriate connectors (such
as ring terminals) and to your speakers using the appropriate connectors
(such as female spade terminals, see photo).- Now you will need to connect the negative terminal of your amplifier to the chassis ground of your vehicle. Any metal point on the vehicle should work since they all lead back to the negative terminal of the battery. This negative power wire should be short and of the same diameter as the positive power wire leading to the battery. When connecting the negative power wire to ground, you may need to scrape some paint from the grounding surface. This will ensure better contact between the negative power wire terminal and the vehicle ground. After you have the negative terminal connected to ground, cover the connection with paint, caulk or a similar protective material to prevent rust. CAUTION: If you must drill a hole in the vehicle to connect the chassis ground, make sure you know what you're drilling in to. This is especially important when you are in the area of your vehicle's gas tank. A wrong move here could puncture the tank, cause a spark and set your vehicle on fire with you in it! If you are unsure then consult a professional.
- After all connections are in place and all wires are secured, you may insert the main power wire fuse.
- Reconnect the negative battery terminal.
Congratulations! You just installed a car audio amplifier. Now if you want to set the gains properly check out this page. If you have any problems after the installation be sure to read over these three articles.
Troubleshooting Car Audio Amplifiers
Car Audio Amplifier Troubleshooting
Amplifier Protection Mode Troubleshooting
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You may also be interested in How to Install Your Own Car Stereo System . It covers many topics including in depth car audio amplifier installation. Click here. |
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