C4 Amplifier Installation

[Guest jamesedge]

Hi anybody,

 

im planning my audio upgrade and i've got it all figured except

 

the best way to run wires to the boot

mainly the power cable from the battery unit to power the amplifier, and the phono cables from the head unit to the amplifier.

 

does anyone know how to get the cable from the battery through the car to the boot, whether there's any cable wells? same with the phono's.

 

any ideas or experience?

[wozza]

Phonos are easy round the back of the dash take lower section of the dash off to get some room pull the carpet back behind the pedals and run it behind there and then into the trim at the side of the door sill.

 

Power cable there should could be a hole just behind the accelerator assembly with a few more cables coming through as well you can put it through there.

[Guest jamesedge]

excellent, thanks alot, got my saturday sorted then.

 

ill ask this now then, but this isn't a must but a preference

 

if i run an amp to the boot and design connections so that the amplifier and the speakers can be removed easily for boot space, will the power cable drain the car battery with no amplifier connected?

[wozza]

No as Economy mode will kick in way before there is time to drain the battery depending on how you wire it.

[Guest jamesedge]

ah that sounds alright,

 

my method was going to be putting a simple kettle lead connection, the only problem i can see is with that slither of a remote wire from the output phono cables would that be ok just disconnected.

 

if thats ok then i think i could be sorted.

 

thanks for your help wozza, i let you know how it works out.

 

i hate giving advice and not knowing if it beneficial to the user.

[wozza]

Are you talking about leaving the remote cable disconnected?

 

If so that won't work the remote cable is there to turn the amp on. Without it the amp won't work. And for your ground connection drill a small hole into the boot floor and sand away some of the paint. As that can cause the amp to be a bit funny if it is not correctly ground.

[Guest Muff]

Are you talking about leaving the remote cable disconnected?

 

If so that won't work the remote cable is there to turn the amp on. Without it the amp won't work. And for your ground connection drill a small hole into the boot floor and sand away some of the paint. As that can cause the amp to be a bit funny if it is not correctly ground.

 

I will add to this- for best quality you shouldn't run Phono's along the same route as power, all you will do is encourage noise, thus degrading the end signal even more. A power lead should be connected directly to the battery via it's own gold plated fused connector block. A good ground to body using quality terminals is equally important. However, if you just want noise, along with pops and crackle then disregard what I just wrote!

[berlingomulti]

1 way to do this would be...

 

Connect the power to the battery run it in by the pedals through the trim into the boot.

 

You have got a few options for the remote wire

 

1.connect to the head unit so when the stereo is off the amp is off

2.connect the remote wire straight from the power on your amp terminal to the remote making a small loop(please note the amp will always be on unless you put in a switch on your dash to control this)

3.Connect the remote wire to the battery when running the power cable to the amp, when you get just past the pedals run the remote wire to some where in the dash and put in a small rocker switch or switch of your choice, thus controlling the amp this way.

 

Also as Muff said I would do this as common practice anyway but run the rca leads down the opposite side of the car or you will get humming and interferance, maybe even the rev noise through your speakers from the engine....