How to Hook Up a Jensen A1000 Stereo Amplifier

The Jensen A1000 is a digital amplifier that is capable of delivering 1,000 watts to your vehicle's stereo system. The responsibility of the car audio amp is to boost the signal from the head unit to power the panel speakers and subwoofers in your car. Connecting the Jensen amp requires establishing a power source from your vehicle's battery. You can trust the installation of your Jensen amp to a car stereo professional, or you can do it yourself for a fraction of the cost.

Things You'll Need

• Adjustable wrench
• Amplifier wiring kit
• Wiring harness adapter
• Speaker wiring
• RCA adapter for speakers (if necessary)

Instructions

1. Open the vehicle's hood to access the battery.

2. Loosen the clamps for each of the two battery cables with an adjustable wrench. Remove the grounding battery cable from the negative terminal.

3. Place the ring terminal from the amplifier wiring kit onto the positive battery lead post. Tighten the positive battery battery cable clamp with the wrench, securing the ring terminal against the post and establishing the power supply connection for the amplifier.

4. Plug the power supply cable from the amp wiring kit into the ring terminal. Remove the fuse from the ring terminal's fuse holder.

5. Feed the power cable into the interior of the vehicle through the firewall. Locate the established path through the firewall and use it for the power supply cable. Consult the vehicle's repair manual to find the opening.

6. Remove the stock stereo and disconnect the stereo wiring connectors from the back of the unit. Plug the stereo wiring connectors into the wiring harness adapter leads. Plug the wiring harness adapter leads into the corresponding outlets on the back of the stereo. Consult the vehicle's repair manual for stereo removal instructions.

7. Plug the patch cables into the free wiring harness adapter leads. You can also use separate signal and turn-on lead cables. Feed the cables through the back of the vehicle's stereo dock and down to the floor of the vehicle.

8. Replace the vehicle's stereo and any dash panels that were removed when you took out the unit. See the repair manual for instructions.

9. Route the patch cables (or individual amp cables) to the location of the Jensen amp. Common mounting places include the trunk (or rear cargo area of a hatchback, station wagon or SUV) or beneath a seat in a pick-up truck.

10. Lay the power supply cable on a parallel path to the amp. Use a path on the opposite side of the vehicle to route the cables. Power cables will cause interference if laid with signal cables.

11. Plug the signal and turn-on lead cables into the outlets on the right side of the amplifier's panel of outlets. The three outlets on the top level are for the patch cables/signal and turn-on lead cables.

12. Plug the power supply cable into the outlets below the signal outlets.

13. Plug the RCA jacks for the speaker wiring into the outlets on the left side of the amp. Route the wiring to the speakers you wish to receive the boosted signal.

14. Plug the speaker wiring into the speakers. Use a speaker harness adapter for speakers that do not accept RCA cables.

15. Connect the grounding wire from the amp wiring kit to the Jensen amplifier. Connect the wire to a bolt or screw near the location of the amp. Any screw or bolt that is connected directly to the vehicle's frame, no more than 20 inches from the amplifier, will serve as an adequate grounding source. Return to the battery.

16. Replace the grounding cable clamp over the negative battery lead post. Tighten the clamp to the post using the wrench.

17. Return the fuse to the fuse holder on the ring terminal. Close the vehicle's hood.

References

• Jensen: JPA1000D Amplifier Installation Manual
• Crutchfield: Amplifier Installation Guide