Q for people with big stereos

[ebsworj]

Where did you mount your amp and what style of boat do you have? <br /><br />In cars i know you want the ground wire no longer than 3 ft. but this dosen't seem possible to me in my fiberglass bowrider. Or I wonder if the ground can be patched in to the fuse panel?

 

[briannh1234]

Re: Q for people with big stereos

I don't have a big stereo in my boat (yet). I have installed and assisted in installing some large stero's in cars - it's almost the same thing.<br /><br />You want your amp in a place that it won't get wet, but can get plenty of air for cooling. I also wonder if a typical car stero amp is considered an "ignition protected" device. (aka: it won't spark)<br /><br />Even in car's, I recommend wiring the ground all the way back to the battery. When you do this the battery act's a a huge noise filter. Use the same gage wire you used for the positive lead. If your fuse panel has a ground strip that would probably work as well.

 

[ebsworj]

Re: Q for people with big stereos

Ok so my plan is to place the AMP in a compartment under the port side dash and under the head unit. If I do this I will have to run 2 equal length power/Ground wires back to the battery and also speaker wires for the sub behind the driver side.<br /><br />My boat only has 1 passage where wires get routed from one side of the boat to the other. It is on the ceiling of the bilge compartment. So the AMP will be the the port side or I'd have to buy 25 foot RCA cables to make it all the way around.<br /><br />Thanks for the reply glad to hear that is the way its done in boats. I was just worried about the extra long Ground wire as this is considered bad in cars.<br /><br />I plan on wiring a on/off switch on the Power wire to the AMP so I can shut off the AMP and just run the the Head Unit to conserve power.<br /><br />Any ideas on how many amp switch I need to run a 100 watt amplifier?

 

[mikebc]

Re: Q for people with big stereos

Yes, 100 watts divided by 12 volts equals 8.3, use the 1 1/2 rule, and awww heck, just get a 15 amper! I'll give ya a huge tip, go buy a $10 25foot outdoor extension cord and you have a double insulated 14 guage power lead and ground! Make sure and go all the way to the battery and FUSE the positive lead!!! MAKE SURE AND FUSE IT RIGHT OFF THE BATTERY!!!!! Hope this helps, I've seen too many people think they were fine because they fused it at the amp, wrong, unless youlike fire!

 

[ndemge]

Re: Q for people with big stereos

On your switch, just run the remote antenna wire from your stereo to the switch and then to your amp.... better to switch low amerage than to be switching the main power wire.<br /><br />I had this setup in my car a long time ago, seperate switch on the amp for the sub, cause sometimes I just didn't want it on.

 

[ebsworj]

Re: Q for people with big stereos

Thanks for the good ideas Mikebc! <br /><br />NoelMG - Ah yes that was my first thought to switch the small blue remote wire that turns on/off the amp. The only reason i thought the power wire switch might be better was it would guantee that the amp couldn't get any juice from the battery. Do you think an amp that is "turned off" will draw any juice? If not your idea would be easier.<br /><br />I'm doing all of this tomorrow morning in addition to 2 rear speakers!

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Q for people with big stereos

No the amps don't use any power when the remote is off, I've got 3 of them in my boat and just turn them off and on with the remote wire going through a switch, make sure though as Mike said above to fuse the main power line as close to the battery as possible.

 

[JRJ]

Re: Q for people with big stereos

loud is good as long as i can't hear it.

 

[ebsworj]

Re: Q for people with big stereos

So I put in the new rear 6.5"s and installed the amp... The amp dosen't turn on though! I switched wiring harness on my CD player when installing in boat, it seemed to be exactly the same as the old one so it made installing the deck super easy but now the remote wire is getting no power. So the amp dosen't turn on (LED is off).<br /><br />I've been told that any 12v signal will tell the amp to turn on so I'm going to try to turn it on with a wire running off the main amp power supply combined w/ a switch.<br /><br />Both the amp and deck were working when I took them out of my car last summer so they should work now.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Q for people with big stereos

If the remote wire is the problem then the switch will work (assuming you have power on the main lead?)however you have to make sure you turn the switch off when leaving or you will return to a dead battery. Does you wire harness have a power ant lead as well because you could try that instead of the remote turn on wire?

 

[ndemge]

Re: Q for people with big stereos

ebs.... Right, any 12V signal will work.<br /><br />Now that I remember back, I had to run mine with a toggle switch because I didn't have antenna wire to get to power the amp, and then found it very usefull.

 

[ebsworj]

Re: Q for people with big stereos

Its done! a 12v signal and a switch did the trick to turn the amp on/off. The switch now lights up to show me the amp is on. Eventually I may find a 12v wire that is only hot w/ the deck is on to make sure I don't leave the amp on. But for now its all good.

 

[BW23]

Re: Q for people with big stereos

You should know better not to use "home elect."<br />products on your boat.<br /><br />Marine grade "tinned" wire is a must for a corrosion free installation.<br /><br />Sorry my post was a little late.

 

[vipzach]

Re: Q for people with big stereos

The red wire on your deck(radio) should come from a switched source. It is cool to see others that install subs and amps in the boats, besides myself.

 

[90skichallenger]

Re: Q for people with big stereos

I came a little late also. I have a hefty stereo in my boat also. I like to listen to music when I board so I have box mount speakers that I can swing front or rear. Bob is absolutely correct on the power ant wire being able to switch on amp. Another suggestion is to wire it to a switched (turn the key on) Power source so when you turn off the key the amp shuts off as well. Or if your like me put it on a switch so you can run the stereo with the key off. I would recommend two batteries for this. One to run the stereo and one for the boat. That way you are never stuck cause of your radio.<br />Later,