How to setup a Car Amplifier Using a Wiring Kit

How to setup a Car Amplifier Using a Wiring Kit

You've got your new ride home and are ready to show it off to your friends. But wait-what about that tinny minute Am/Fm radio crammed in the dash? You know the one-with the tiny minute speakers wired into the top of the dash and the pitiful minute "woofers" in the door panels? To avoid serious communal ownage, you're going to have to replace this musical travesty as soon as possible. But what's the best way to go about it? Installing a new sound system doesn't have to be the electrical equivalent of brain surgery. The process can legitimately be pretty simple, if you follow a few basic steps. In order, these are Input, Amperage, Output, and Wiring. If you get I.A.O.W firmly in mind, car sound system success can be yours.

Input: This is where you're going to get the sound that you will put out into the air. This can be a radio, a Cd player, or, if you're feeling legitimately retro, some kind of tape player. The input of selection these days is often a radio/music player combination; the radio is there to provide local programming, but also has a jack or connector to allow you to hook up your iPod or Zune to carry your personal music picks.

Car Drive Cables Stereo

Amperage: That iPod isn't going to sound very good trying to drive a set of 10-inch subwoofers speakers, is it? Amperage is power-the power to make big speakers go. That means adding an amplifier. Amplifiers are designed to take input and boost its power so that it can legitimately be heard.

Output: All the power in the world isn't going to do much good if it can't be heard, right? production means speakers. There are many kinds of speakers available; so many that we're not even going to try to cover them all here. For most of us mere mortals, suffice it to say that a integrate high range "tweeters", a integrate speakers for the midrange, and a big set of subwoofers speakers to provide thumpin' bass is all you need.

Wiring: That's what we're all about in this article. Wiring is the glue that holds it all together. You need wires to get the input to the amp. You need wires to get the amped input out to the speakers. Face it; without those all-important cables, you got nothin'. So let's start there.

Chances are the stock wiring in case,granted in your car isn't going to deal with a qualified sound system. The good news is there are lots of rebuilt wiring kits that can replace what's already in there. Start by finding the right kit for your car model -most market (whether brick and mortar or online) have informational charts available. Next, look at the size of the Output. How serious a speaker can you cram into your ride? Check to see what the maximum peak power rating for the speaker you want to use-you don't want to use an amplifier that is too qualified or you'll blow your speakers out! Now buy an amplifier (the Amperage part of the equation) that has an production equal to or slightly less than the rating for the speakers. Check the fuse that is plugged into the amplifier (usually written on or near the fuse cap). Using the amperage of the fuse as a guide, opt a wiring kit that a) fits your car and b) is at an amperage that is equal to or higher than the amperage of the amplifier (for example, with an amplifier fuse rating of 25A, the wiring should be 25amps or above). As a rule of thumb, the higher the amperage of the kit, the cleaner the sound-the "pipes" carrying the signal will be "wider" so to speak.

Many wiring kits are designed to plug directly into the wires from the customary manufacturer's radio plug; just match the colors/labels and you're good to go. If you are working on a modified wiring harness, make sure to get one that matches the amplifier you plan to use, and then follow the instructions to hook up speakers at one end and input source at the other. Hint: a bent coat hanger is a great tool for threading wires straight through doors and other panels. As long as you keep I.A.O.W in mind, installing a new sound system wiring kit can be as uncomplicated as installing new rims or tires.

How to setup a Car Amplifier Using a Wiring Kit

Check Price on - Car Drive Cables Stereo Products

Home and Garden Books - Animal Care and Pets Books - Crafts and Hobbies Books - Home Improvements Label Printer USB - Staples USB - Brother USB Label Printer - Label Printing Software - Barcode