Installing a car audio amplifier to your car's audio system can greatly increase the overall sound quality of your system. One of the key aspects of installing the amp is connecting the amp's red power wire to your car's battery and running it back to your amp. It sounds easy, but it must be done correctly in order for your amp to power up properly.
Instructions
1. Disconnect your car's negative battery cable from the terminal using a socket set. This should be done anytime you plan on working with your car's electrical system in order to prevent the risk of electrical shock.
2. Do the same to the positive terminal. You will be connecting your amp's power wire to the positive terminal of your car's battery, but don't do so yet. When installing the amp power wire, the end with the in-line fuse will go in your engine compartment near the battery.
3. Find an opening in your car's firewall leading from the engine compartment to the cabin of the car by searching for rubber grommets that can be pulled out to expose a hole wide enough for the power wire to fit. Every model car will have these rubber grommets located in different areas, but most commonly you'll find them near the feet of the driver and passenger sides of the car underneath the carpet.
4. Run the power wire from the car battery, through the hole you found in step 3, to the location of your amp (usually in the trunk area). Make sure the amp power wire's insulation does not get stripped on metal when being pulled the hole in your car's firewall. Leave enough slack to mount the amp power wire safely in the engine compartment and to the battery.
5. Strip away about 1/4 inch of insulation from the end of the amp power cable near your amp, and connect the cable to the "Power" input on amp and tighten down with a Phillips head screwdriver.
6. Tuck the amp power cable underneath your car's carpeting or trim panels using a screwdriver or trim panel tool for a cleaner look.
7. Connect your amp power cable to your battery's positive terminal using the included metal loop connector for a tight fit. Reconnect the positive battery cable to the battery terminal, and then do the same for the negative terminal. Test to see that the amp turns on.
Tags: power wire, engine compartment, positive terminal, your battery, your power, battery cable