Car amplifiers are made for a variety of different car uses, so they come in a variety of power ratings and sizes. As a class, they're usually compact and rugged, with powerful performance at a reasonable price. Car amplifiers are built to operate with a 12-volt DC power source, while home stereo gear uses 110-volt AC current. But with a power converter, you can use a car amp to power a subwoofer in your home stereo system.
Instructions
1. Check the amplifier's specifications sheet or data plate for the required amperage and voltage and amperage it needs. Choose a converter that matches these specs. All car amplifiers need an input voltage of 12 volts DC, but their amperage needs will vary. You'll need to look this important specification up.
2. Cut two pieces of power cable, one black piece and and one red piece. Each should be long enough to reach from the converter to the amp. Take a half-inch of insulation from the ends of each piece of wire with wire strippers.
3. Loosen the "+" and "-" power terminals on your amplifier and your converter, using a screwdriver. Consult the manuals for your gear if necessary.
4. Put the bare ends of the red and black power wires into the power terminals of your amp and converter. Put the red wire's ends into the "+" terminals and the black wire's ends into the "-" terminals.
5. Plug an RCA patch cable between the preamp output of your receiver and the audio input of the amplifier.
6. Insert the speaker wires leading to your subwoofer into the speaker terminals of the amplifier.
Tags: amperage needs, ends into, ends into terminals, home stereo, into terminals, power terminals