Preparation
Step1
Choose where to put your new amp. If you are installing subwoofers it's usually best to put the amplifier in the trunk next to or attached to your subwoofer enclosure. If you are going to power your main car speakers with the amplifier then it may be better to put the amp under the passenger's seat.
Step2
Purchase the following wiring for the amp: A thick power cable (the thickness required depends on the total wattage of your amp, ask a sales rep or consult your amplifier's manual for the proper gauge) that will have to reach from your battery to the amp (the power cable should also have an inline fuse to protect the amplifier); 3 feet of ground cable of equal thickness as the power cable; an RCA signal cable to carry the left and right signals from your head unit to the amp; a "remote on" wire which can be any thin wire (20 to 24 gauge) that will also run from the head unit to the amp; speaker wire (if you are powering subwoofers you should only need about 3 feet of 12-gauge wire per sub, if you're going to power your main speakers you will need enough 16-gauge wire to reach each speaker from the amp, 12 feet per speaker is usually safe).
Step3
Gather the following tools: Screwdrivers, wire cutters, wire strippers, pliers, a utility knife, sandpaper, masking tape with a pen for labeling, 2 crimp-on o-ring ends for the power and ground cables. If you're hooking the amp to your speakers, you'll also need 2 crimp-on female spade connectors for each speaker.
Step4
Find a manual with instructions on taking off the dash of your car (not the whole dash--just the head unit, in order to hook wires to the back), and also to get at your car's speakers if you are hooking the amp to them.
The Installation
Step1
Disconnect the ground (negative) cable from your battery. Never work on the electrical system of your car with this connected.
Step2
Attach the side with the fuse of the thick positive (+/red) power cable to the connector on the positive terminal of your battery; the o-ring can be sandwiched in the bolt on the connector that connects your car to the battery. Now put the fuse in the fuse holder.
Step3
Run the power cable through the firewall of your car (there is usually an opening on the driver's side) and to your amplifier. If your amp is in the back it is usually best to run this wire under the plastic molding that goes along the bottom edge of your car. Be careful where you run the wire because the power cables should never be near the signal or speaker wires.
Step4
Find a metal bolt or screw on the metal of your car near the amp to connect the ground cable to. This should be as close to the amp as possible, never more than 3 feet. Unscrew it and clean the metal surface with sandpaper. Attach the ground to it with the o-ring and screw it back down firmly.
Step5
Remove your head unit and run the signal and remote on wires from behind the head unit to your amp. Connect the RCA connectors and the remote on wire to the back of your head unit.
Step6
(If you are installing subwoofers and not running your normal speakers off the amplifier skip to step 7.) Run the 16-gauge wire from each one of your speakers to the amplifier. On the amp side use the masking tape to label each wire so you know which speaker it is. On the speaker end-strip a 1/4 inch off the ends of the wires and crimp on the female spade connectors with your pliers. Connect the spade connectors to your speakers making sure to match the positive (+/red or white) with the positive terminal and the negative (-/black) with the negative one.
Step7
Connect everything to your amplifier. Only strip off as much as you need off the end of each wire to make a solid connection, you don't want any exposed wire hanging out. If you have subs, attach them to the amp with the 12-gauge speaker wire.
Step8
Secure your amp to something. If it is in the back you can screw it directly to your subwoofer enclosure. If it is under a seat you may just want to get some straps that hold it down.
Step9
Reconnect your car's negative cable to the battery. Test your system and make sure everything works, going around to see that every speaker is on before you put everything back together.
Step10
Put everything back together.
Install a Car Amplifier
Comments
ToyBox said
on 7/14/2008 Your Blue wire (remote turn on wire) is going to go from your amp (turn on/remote connection) to your behind your stereo. If you have an aftermarket stereo already, pull it out and hook up the blue to the blue and white. If you have the original car stereo find the wire that powers on/off (accessory wire) with the key with the key.
By the way, you sound like you're 12. Why do you have a car...or an amplifier for that matter? Go see a professional if you can't figure it out. Bring money too.
If you want to see how NOT to install things - try http://www.crappyinstall.com . This guy does a great break down on everything you need to know.
cesar said
on 3/28/2007 where does the blue wire from the amp go ,because i tried to hook up my amp and it would turn on ,cause i dont know where to put the blue wire.thanks
leejolene123 said
on 1/11/2007 this makes it sound very easy why cant this person write the instructions that you get when you buy an amp 10 out of 10
Proinstll said
on 10/31/2006 A more easy way to install just your amp that u already own (step 1) get all your wires layed out on the sides of the car/truck u wish to put them on ie Power wire usually on the drivers side or in a BMW case that has the battery in the trunk either side would do (step 2)Pull out your head unit so you have room to connect rca's and remote 2.(Step 3)look around behind and above your brake gas or clutch pedals to see if there is a rubber gromet u may be able to feed your power wire through use a long clothes hanger to break through to see if it goes out to underneath the hood, at least so u can connect the power to the battery (optional)if there is no gromet you will have to drill through your fire wall (BE CAREFUL!!!!)LOOK BEFORE YOU DRILL SO YOU AREN"T DRILLING THROUGH ANYTHING OTHER THEN UR FIRE WALL LIKE CABLES TANKS FOR FLUIDS ANYTHING LIKE THAT (THAT IS A MUST!!!!) ALWAYS LOOK BEFORE YOU DRILL. once you have found a good hole that can get ur power wire through the firewall and through the hood to the battery then ur set (Step 3)next what you will want to do is figure out where u want to put ur amp Most likely drilled to your sub enclosure or if ur powereing your speakers to the back of the rear seats just so it isn't moving around as u drive and doesn't cause shorts or disconnections. Once you have figured out where you want to put your amp get the little blue wire and your Bass remote wire if there is a Bass controller and start feeding that through the passengers side take off sil panels (the plastic things at the bottom of your doors with a panel popper) then feed your little blue remote wire and Bass control cable and rca's that will connect to your head unit put it underneath the carpet so it is not visible. (Step 4)Next you will mount your amp after that you will find a place for your ground usually ground to your chassis for the best ground to do that rip up the carpet and get to the metal floor (THEN LOOK UNDERNEATH THE CAR TO MAKE SURE YOU WON"T BE DRILLING THROUGH ANYTHING ONCE AGAIN if you are clear to drill First sand down the metal so u reach bare metal and no paint just silver metal make it enough so you can fit the O-ring on that silver metal then drill the ground o-ring onto the surface you have sanded (WARNING) For your ground wire always use the same guage wire as your power wire for example you are using 4 guage for your power, u must use the same guage for your ground (Step 5)now you have all your wires amp and everything else in place the easy part comes connecting everything connect your rca's connect your remote blue wire and bass control wire to the amp and head unit if necessary then put the fuse in the fuse holder cut a little bit of power wire so that you have a little bit of wire after the fuse DO NOT HAVE IT TO LONG! connect both of those wires to the fuse holder and take the nut off the power on the battery and then put the o-ring on that and put the nut back on and screw tight after that is done hide all the wires connect the ground wire to the place that reads GND may give you a little spark don't be alarmed then connect your power wire to the amp that reads pwr then connect the rca's and remote blue wire and your bass control wire that's it for the amp no for the subs simply get the speaker wire connect positive to red and negative to black then if you want to bridge for more power connect the left to the far left of the speaker and the right to the far right if you are running more then one sub splice the wires together that are comming from the subs to the amp your done enjoy the bass (NO CLEAN UP YOUR MESS!!!!)
Anonymous said
on 2/15/2006 When you first buy the amp (if you do not know what you are doing) buy a kit for your amps range. Then, connect the RCA cables; the red and white cables to the back of your stereo, and run those and the little tiny blue wire that comes in the kit, down one side of the car. Connect the tiny blue wire to the tiny blue wire on your stereo. Zip tie those wires together and run them over your pedals and tie them to a wire, then run them back to the amp. Connect the blue wire to the amp where it says "REM." Connect the RCA's to the designated spot on the amp. Then, take your power wire and tie it to a wire near the positive thing on your battery. In every car there is a firewall, or a hole behind the engine where you can put the power wire through, just look around for it. If you can't find one and are ghetto, you can run it behind the quarter panel and in through the door. Run this back to the amp and plug it into the power slot. Then, find a hole in your trunk somewhere, and connect the ground wire with a bolt to that hole, connect the power wire to the battery, and check if your amp is on, (make sure your stereo is on too) if it isn't, disconnect the power wire, then disconnect the ground wire and sand or grind around it until there is no paint on it. Reconnect both wires and try again; it should be on!