12" Sub Box and Amp Install Guide

[Goines]

Thought some of you might find this useful, and thought I might return the favour for reading all of your helpful posts. http://publish.uwo.ca/~jwnewton/sub_install/

[rasermon]

Goines, welcome to genvibe. That is a great post and sure you will enjoy the forums here.

[Sub-Vibe-R]

Good info and nice job. I used the spare to put my amp instead of under the driver seat. If you want to see it, take a look here: http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=3185BTW, it will be harder to make this install in a Vibe cause all Vibes come with the 120v power outlet, and the converter is located under the driver seat.I have a little question for you. Why are you using a toggle switch for the remote? Is it because there's no remote with your HU or only to have a way to turn off the amp quickly?

[Goines]

Actually the switch is on the main power lead. My headunit has a remote lead, but I just wanted something that would let me directly kill power to the amp incase of some problem in the car, or a quick way to kill the bass, without the system (ie people in the car who wouldn't like it) And actually, you could follow these directions to install almost anywhere. I'm planning on placing a large power converter into my matrix, just don't know exactly where yet (possibly passenger seat, if I don't want a changer, otherwise under the back).

[CMcGowan]

While the switch is not a bad idea, I would use a relay instead and switch the power going to the relay. A 200 watt amp takes roughly 15 amps, ALOT of power for that little switch. If you use a standard 20 amp auto relay ($5), you can switch the power line to the relay which only needs to be .5 amps at best. This is alot safer setup. Another bonus is you'll get better bass out of this setup since your not trying to squeeze the poer through the small contacts of the switch and losing voltage in the process.

[Sub-Vibe-R]

I second that. A relay will be safer. I have a 360W amp and have the main power passing through a simple toggle switch like this one can cause some trouble. On my previous car, I saw a fuse older used for my fog lifht completly melted, cause it was not able to handle this power. If you want to use this single switch, put it with the remote lead of the amp (who need about 250-500 mA) or add a 40A relay. That way it will be a lot safer.

[Goines]

Wow, those are great suggestions. I think tonight I'm going to move the fuse very close to the bettery terminal, and also flip the switch to control the remote lead. I would get a relay, but I don't really know that much about them. Which way would it be better to switch?

[Sub-Vibe-R]

To make a safe installation, put the main fuse the closest you can do from the battery.If your absolutly want the switch to turn on and off the amp., put it on the remote, not on the main power cable.Used the remote lead control of your HU.If you need absolutly the toggle switch, put it on the remote lead control.To be enven more safe, you can put a relay to isolate the HU, the amp. and the switch. Using a relay won't be very much safer, but some people like to be as safe as possible.A relay is a very simple device. Standard relay has 4 wires (some have 5 but don't bother, you don't need the 5th one)To be simple, there's an IN, an OUT, a + and a -.When the + and the - have there specific polarity on them, the relay links the IN and the OUT together. Otherwise, the IN and the OUT are isolated.Take a look here to get more details on relayshttp://electronics.howstuffworks.com/relay1.htm

[Goines]

quote:To make a safe installation, put the main fuse the closest you can do from the battery.If your absolutly want the switch to turn on and off the amp., put it on the remote, not on the main power cable.Used the remote lead control of your HU.Yeah, that is exactly what I thought I would get to do. There is room to toss the fuse right off the battery, so I will. And the HU remote lead is where I will put the switch.Great, thanks for the help, this way I can have a fairly safe setup, without disturbing the power flow.