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-   -   Amp and Sub wiring (https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/amp-sub-wiring-164466/)

Slim357 03-10-2013 05:37 PM

I order a Boss 8ga amp wiring kit from Walmart for my 150watt power series Power Acoustic amp and Black Phantom 10s.
Tools needed:
Good set of wire strippers
Good set of crimpers
Phillips head screw driver
Drill and drill bit about the size of your power wire
Impact with 1/4in nut driver chuck
Pair of dykes
A metal clothes hanger
Radio removal tool
Material needed:
Amp wiring kit of your choice
2 or more self tapping sheet metal screws
A pack of Dolphin butt connections
A pack of female disconnects
Electrical tape or Duct tape either will work fine
A case of beer

I started by taking the dash apart (newer xjs only need to remove the plastic piece from around the radio). There are 4 screws in the plastic piece that goes around the gauge cluster and radio. Two are located above the steering column one is on the left the other is on the right. Take those out then there is one above the headlight switch and cigaret lighter take them out as well. Then just work it loose (be careful it can break very easily) then slide it out of the way this is a tight squeeze but can be done.

Slim357 03-10-2013 06:02 PM

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Remove the radio as well I used the removal tools that cam with my radio. Unplug the antenna and wiring harness from the radio and set it to the side. Then you will need to unscrew the comfort controls there is 2 screws on either side that need removed then just pull it out some so its out of the way (be careful I broke one of the mounting tabs pulling it out).

Slim357 03-10-2013 06:07 PM

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Then grab your RCA cables and remote wire tape them together with black tape and feed them thru the left side behind the radio mount and begine to feed it down thru the dash. Next grab that wire hanger you have and straighten it out then take the straightest end and bend it like a hook. Then take your hooked end of the hanger and grab the tapped part of the RCA cables and give a little tug to get it all the way thru the dash. Tie the RCA and remote wire to the other wires for the radio so you dont pull them all the way thru the dash like I did. Take a break and have a cold beer this is a pretty good point to do so.

Slim357 03-10-2013 07:44 PM

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Then take your wires and feed them thru the floor vent in front of the center console. Remove all the screws holding down the center console as well as the black plastic insert that goes from the shifter to the ebrake handle. next run the power wire and RCA and Remote wire down thru the bottom of the center console to where there is a gap in the carpet. Take the hook end of the hanger and push it thru the underside of the carpet from the back seat area. There is a spot where you can pull the carpet up just enough to pull the wire thru to hide it. Then take the RCA and remote wire and run them under the back of the back seat on the left side and run the power wire on the right side under neath the back seat.

Slim357 03-10-2013 09:13 PM

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Now carefully strip the power and remote wires. Take the big fork looking brass connection that came with your amp kit and crimp it onto your power wire. Take the smaller fork looking connector and crimp it on your remote wire after you have stripped it. Connect both to there proper spots on your amp. Then strip your ground wire and put the other big fork connection and crimp it on to your wire and connect it to to the proper spot on your amp. Take your ground and strip the other end of it and twist it (make sure its about an inch to inch and a half long) Pull the the trim with the cubby hole away from the jeep enough the get an impact in there. Run the ground thru one of the vent holes. Scrape the paint off of a spot on the metal where you chose to mount it. Put one of your 1/4in self tapping srew 3/4 of the way into the sheet metal where you scrapped the metal clean then take your ground wire and wrap it around your screw then tighten the screw down. Then take your amp and mount it with the hardware included with it. Take you speaker wire and run it into your sub box if you dont have the external hook up jacks for you wire. Take the wire and strip it enough the fit in your female disconnects. Put a piece of wire to connect two of the female disconnects together do this in sets of 2 then twist them together and crimp the wires into 4 of the female disconnects (for DVC). This will allow you to run two 4ohm DVC at 2ohms to the amp (they hit harder) repeat this for your other sub wires as well. Slip the female disconnects onto there appropriate terminals (one set is for + the other is your -) mine was marked on each terminal. Then connect the speaker wires to your amp most amps have screw terminals mine did not it has a plug with wires coming off of it. Just hook up each set of speaker wires to one channel (+,- -,+ this is how most amps are set up each is its own channel some may be different for more then 2 channels). I used the dolphin butt connectors for hooking mine up. Now strip the other end of your remote wire that is sitting in the area ur radio wiring is. Strip the remote wire from your radios wiring harness twist them together and crimp on a dolphin butt connector.

Slim357 03-10-2013 09:30 PM

Now all we have left is the power wire. For this I ran it behind the gas and brake peddles over to the what I believe is the cruise control cable not sure but its the only one that has a big garment above the fuse block. I simply drilled a hole with my drill my drill bit was a bit smaller the the wire so I had to round it out quite a bit. After you get the wire thru the garment run it along the fire wall over to the coolant over flow tank then down to the batter. Cut the wire where you are placing your inline fuse strip the wire on both side of the cut and bolt the exposed wire into either side of yose fuse holder. Strip the power wire long enough to be able to double it over and fill the ring connector that came with your kit and make sure there is a solid crimp here. Take the bolt off the positive terminal and take the the ring connector and slide it on the bolt put the nut back on securely. Next you will need to mount your fuse holder. Find where you want it take your impact and 1/4in self tapping screw and drill it into the inside fender wall as high as possible. Now all you have to do is put your dash back together, tune your amp drink a few more beers and enjoy. You dont need a big amp for a good amount of base my little amp pushes my 10s so much it it shake my rear view mirror and I feel it in the back of my seat. Best of luck to you and have fun doing it.

Slim357 03-10-2013 09:34 PM

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End product should look something like this I also used the split wire loom to cover my speaker wire. Also you should secure the power wire the best you possibly can so you dont have a short down the road. If you have any questions feel free to pm me and I will do my best to answer them.

SteveMongr 07-25-2013 12:19 PM

Keep a fire extinguisher handy.

Slim357 07-25-2013 02:42 PM


Originally Posted by SteveMongr (Post 2554316)
Keep a fire extinguisher handy.

Whys that?

cj's99xjsport 08-15-2013 10:29 PM

yeah for real a big one!

FLicedtea 08-28-2013 02:20 PM

Also, make sure your subs are wired correctly.

http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/Suppo...x#wiringwizard

Slim357 08-29-2013 02:43 PM


Originally Posted by FLicedtea (Post 2592695)
Also, make sure your subs are wired correctly.

http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/Suppo...x#wiringwizard

Mine are wired correctly..... If you buy a newer sub it should be clearly labeled where the wires connect to.

War Eagle 09-15-2013 08:16 PM


Originally Posted by SteveMongr (Post 2554316)
Keep a fire extinguisher handy.

especially if you take your system out and leave the wires in and leave them hot...at best youll only need new wires:D

i guess it could possibly start a fire if conditions were right though

Slim357 09-15-2013 10:38 PM


Originally Posted by War Eagle (Post 2611761)

especially if you take your system out and leave the wires in and leave them hot...at best youll only need new wires:D

i guess it could possibly start a fire if conditions were right though

Thats why I remove the fuse every time I remove my subs. I recently update my system with 4ga 1200watt kit and a 1000watt amp with two rockford 10s in a nicer box. Lil more base then I ever wanted but itll work till I get the exact set up I want done.

War Eagle 09-16-2013 06:11 AM


Originally Posted by Slim357 (Post 2611908)
Thats why I remove the fuse every time I remove my subs. I recently update my system with 4ga 1200watt kit and a 1000watt amp with two rockford 10s in a nicer box. Lil more base then I ever wanted but itll work till I get the exact set up I want done.

is it a ported or sealed sub box?

I run 2 12" DB drive 1500w's off my JL 1000/1 and theyre sealed and i love it, so nice and crisp sounding


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