Car Audio Amplifier
 

I was wondering if anyone on this board had any experiance installing amplifiers in a car. starting with how to test the amp before i put it in to make sure its working, and if there are any tips or tricks to running the wire about the car. I really only know what i could read on crutchfield, so anything that you all could tell me would be really useful.

Well. First off, what would you like to test about the amp before you install it? Do you want to make sure that it works period? Make sure that each seperate channel works?

Some main tips that come to mind:

Make sure that you have the power wire fused close to the battery.

Make sure that you use a sealed grommit on the firewall to run the power wire.

Try to make your ground wire for the amp as short as possible; and that you have a sturdy ground.

Make sure that you use cable is that large enough to handle the load, I always like to over-do that part.

Make sure that you run the power feed, and the audio cables on seperate sides of the car.

Make sure that if you have to splice the wire, that you use a good splicing technique, use solid butt connectors.

When it comes to running the wires back to the car, it really depends on what kind of car you're wiring and how much work you want to put into the project.

I can expand on any of these tips as much as you care, I used to install car-audio for a number of years, and I have always had satistifed customers.

-SF

thanks for the info... to elaborate...
i would like to do a bench test to make sure that the amp is in working condition, meaning do i need to return it before i go to all the work to put it in. i would say if you could answer that for me... i would be in good enough shape to start my project. thanks

K, because you asked nicely.. :)

First, find yourself a spare car battery. If not, you can use one that is in your car, (and no, you don't have to take it out.

Prepare a few things:

In-Line 20-40 Amp fuse
Various lengths of wire that are suitable for the amp to run
Wire clippers
Butt connectors/crimpers

Rig your power wire with the inline fuse and prepare a lenght of wire for your ground. Connect the fused lead to the (+) terminal on the amp, as well as the (+) on the car battery. Next, connect the other wire to the Ground on the amp and to the (-) on the battery/any other suitable chassis ground will also do. From there you will need a small double ended aligator clip or length of wire that you will connect the (+) to the REMOTE on the amp. This will turn the amp on. If you amp has a power light, it should be illuminated.

This is the first test, if you see a light, there is a chance that the amp is o.k.

You can then pull out the fuse, while you attach a speaker to the output terminals of the amp. Remember, the speaker should be able to handle any power that the amp could give it.
Now, feed a signal into the amp via the RCA jacks, Plug your fuse back in and see if you are getting any sound on the outputs. You may have to initially adjust the gain of the amp to hear anything, or it may already be set.

From there you can tell if the amp has any potential. You can use that speaker to check the other outputs to make sure that all the channels are functional.

Some HQ amps have thermal/short circuit protection that will help prevent them from blowing up, there will usually be a LED that will light up if there is a problem with the amp.

If you could provide a brand/model number I may be able to help you out with any specifics.

BTW, if you have access to a ociliscope, I can tell you how to get the MOST bang for your buck from your amp!

-sF

What kind of car are you installing it on?

the amp is going into a 1997 sable... or if you want to be generic... a 2nd generation taurus.
I also have a new question to the group.... is it nessicary to lower the gauge of the speakerwire in the car, the way the car is set up it is extreamly easy to just splice the amp right into it, all the speakers are run to a rear control unit, so all the wires for all the speakers are in the trunk where the amp is going.. thanks again

what kinda amp?

i hear alpine makes the best

and the most expensive :) I'd say the best (for the money) is Rockford Fosgate (even though they are pretty expensive too) or Boss (not Bose).

thanks for all your help... my amp went in without a hitch. i would like to metion to anyone with a 2nd generation Taurus, it is a piece of cake to add a 4 channel amplifier. thanks for all your help... anyone else that wants to hear about my experiance feel free to ask me...