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Amplifier installation questions

Old 10-19-2010, 12:42 PM
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Default Amplifier installation questions

I am about to hook up up my subwoofers today when i get home from school. First question whats the easiest way to run the power cable for the amp through the firewall ? second question where would be a a good groung for the amp ? btw this is my first time installing subwoofers and amp so any help is appreciated
Old 10-19-2010, 01:01 PM
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The best ground spot I have used is at the seatbelt bolt under the rear seat. Just loose the bolt, sand down a small section to bare metal for a clean contact, then screw the bolt back with the wire in place beneath it.

As for the power, I ran it along the passenger side. I drilled a hole in the fire wall under the dash just below and to the side of the blower motor bracket. Its easy to get to and makes for a clean install. You'll have to pull back some of the carpet to expose the fire wall and then for routing purposes of the wire. Its also easier to remove the front seat and the rear bench so you have more room to work.

Good luck!
Old 10-19-2010, 01:19 PM
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The shorter you can keep your ground the better. You will also need to pull out your radio for a remote turn on wire for the amp and you will need to hook up your RCA cables. The remote wire wire is a switched power wire.
Old 10-19-2010, 01:23 PM
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Thanks for the quick reply i should be rockin out here in a little bit
Old 10-19-2010, 01:25 PM
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Originally Posted by dbcox
The shorter you can keep your ground the better. You will also need to pull out your radio for a remote turn on wire for the amp and you will need to hook up your RCA cables. The remote wire wire is a switched power wire.
So hook up the remote turn on wire to the switch wire for the radio ?
Old 10-19-2010, 01:33 PM
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Originally Posted by CarolinaBoy
So hook up the remote turn on wire to the switch wire for the radio ?
Aftermarket radios have a dedicated amp remote "turn-on" wire. You need to connect a remote turn on for the amp to this wire.
Old 10-19-2010, 01:38 PM
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haha now i know what that wire was for. I couldnt figure it out when i hooked my radio up.
Old 10-19-2010, 04:07 PM
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i ran my amp under my rear seat where my stock jack used to be. that way if someone breaks in atleast itl slow them down to getting the amp or getting it at all.( happened to me, broke in, broke some wires but something spooked them so they left it in my jeep still thank god lol).

i put it under the passenger side too. and theres actually a place for a screw for the old jack and stuff, thats where i made my ground connect to, just sanded the little bit of paint down. hope this helps
Old 10-19-2010, 04:29 PM
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If you do alot of looking theres a rubber grommet (atleast <96's have it) on the side that the batteries on, I took it out and sliced it a little to fit my wire. And I had NO luck getting my ground wire to stay in that dammed seat bolt. Im constantly putting my back steats down for work and it kept coming out, so i picked a spont in the back, and drilled a hole into the chassis and locked the wire in with one of them star nuts, hasnt moved since.
Old 10-20-2010, 01:01 PM
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I pulled the panel off in the back on the passenger side and grounded it to the wheel well where there was a bolt missing. Killed two birds with one stone but i still got nothing theres a place on the amp that is labeled acc and im not sure whats supposed to go there could that be my problem ?
Old 10-20-2010, 01:14 PM
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when you put the wire on the bolt did you sand or scratch the paint off were the bolt goes in if not you may not be getting a good ground
Old 10-20-2010, 01:29 PM
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Originally Posted by mwdouglas
when you put the wire on the bolt did you sand or scratch the paint off were the bolt goes in if not you may not be getting a good ground
yes i ground the paint off with a ziz wheel
Old 10-20-2010, 01:32 PM
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is the amp not coming on when you turn on the radio
Old 10-20-2010, 01:38 PM
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nope. will running the rca's and power cable next to each other keep it from working ?
Old 10-20-2010, 01:53 PM
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Run the power on the drivers side and RCA and switch cables on the passenger


Yes it does matter.

The + cord frequency will conflict with RCA frequency making a small magnetic field


Good luck!


(I used the tire wrack with 2 washers and a randy cable end with no sanding.)

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