Audio Amp Install

[ctrlraven]

Plan on installing a 4-ch amp sometime soon. My question is for those who have installed theirs, where did you run the power wire for the amp? Wasn't sure if people ran it down the passenger side or back along the firewall crossing over the back of the engine then down through a grommet and along the drivers side.

I may do it myself which is why I'm asking or I might pay a shop to do it since they can run the wires up to the front speakers as well.

[Pops]

We run it down the passenger side and cross under the rear seat.

[crownvic05]

We run it down the passenger side and cross under the rear seat.

thats what I do as well. RCA's and speaker wires I run on the driver side even though i'm not sure if its a good idea to keep rca's and speaker wires together.

[MOTOWN]

We run it down the passenger side and cross under the rear seat.

+1 thats how i did mines as well

[Baconbit]

thats what I do as well. RCA's and speaker wires I run on the driver side even though i'm not sure if its a good idea to keep rca's and speaker wires together.


You should be ok doing that but when you mix the RCA's and the power wire that is when you get alternator whine through your speakers.

[MOTOWN]

Plan on installing a 4-ch amp sometime soon. My question is for those who have installed theirs, where did you run the power wire for the amp? Wasn't sure if people ran it down the passenger side or back along the firewall crossing over the back of the engine then down through a grommet and along the drivers side.

I may do it myself which is why I'm asking or I might pay a shop to do it since they can run the wires up to the front speakers as well.

What amp are you going with:confused:

[illwood]

You should be ok doing that but when you mix the RCA's and the power wire that is when you get alternator whine through your speakers.

Agreed, if you have to cross the power and signal wires, do it at a 90° angle to prevent inducing a signal (noise).

Sent from my EVO 3D using Tapatalk

[ctrlraven]

What amp are you going with:confused:
Probably a JL 300/4 version 1 or 2. Don't really need much power and I know JL amps run cleanly and produce the same power at 12.2 or 14.4 volts. When I use to sell and install mobile A/V stuff years ago I did a lot of budget audiophile systems using that amp with great results, enough power to get the front componets moving good and I've got a low watt rms 12" sub in a sealed box so bridging the rear channels down to 2 ohms will give me enough bump.

[fesifisky]

Passed the power wire through the firewall grommet on the passenger side, sealed with black silicone. What size fuse are you planning on using? Currently using a blade style 80amp with an Alpine amp with no issues.

[BirchMarauder]

Plan on installing a 4-ch amp sometime soon. My question is for those who have installed theirs, where did you run the power wire for the amp? Wasn't sure if people ran it down the passenger side or back along the firewall crossing over the back of the engine then down through a grommet and along the drivers side.

I may do it myself which is why I'm asking or I might pay a shop to do it since they can run the wires up to the front speakers as well.


I did my own custom install, power wire went down the passenger side (same side as the battery) and the signal wires went down the drivers side. there is a grommet on the passenger side that I used to push the 4 gauge wire thru. came out right below the ac components. also there are empty channels in the plastic trays on both sides of the car under the carpet that you can use to run the wires to the trunk and not have them pinched or just laying under the carpet. I have ZERO whine also. i can take pictures if you need.


oh, and I bought a 9 in 1 conductor speed wire cable from an audio store about 10 years ago and have transfered it to 3 different vehicles. here is a link of something similar http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-18-GAUGE-9-CONDUCTORS-SPEED-WIRE-20-FT-SPEAKER-WIRE-REMOTE-WIRE-918-20-/150705172582#vi-content

this was you can run the speaker wires and remote turn on wire down the same side in one clean move!

[ctrlraven]

I did my own custom install, power wire went down the passenger side (same side as the battery) and the signal wires went down the drivers side. there is a grommet on the passenger side that I used to push the 4 gauge wire thru. came out right below the ac components. also there are empty channels in the plastic trays on both sides of the car under the carpet that you can use to run the wires to the trunk and not have them pinched or just laying under the carpet. I have ZERO whine also. i can take pictures if you need.


oh, and I bought a 9 in 1 conductor speed wire cable from an audio store about 10 years ago and have transfered it to 3 different vehicles. here is a link of something similar http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-18-GAUGE-9-CONDUCTORS-SPEED-WIRE-20-FT-SPEAKER-WIRE-REMOTE-WIRE-918-20-/150705172582#vi-content

this was you can run the speaker wires and remote turn on wire down the same side in one clean move!
Any pics you have would be great!

I'm not sure if I will be running a 8 or 4 ga wire yet. If I get the amp I want it will accept both but only needs 8 ga to run. I'd probably most likely do a 4 ga in case down the road I add a larger or another amp and then just get a d-block.

How many feet of power wire is need if running down the passenger side and how long for the rca wires? I will be using an in-line converter as well to pick up a signal for the amp up at the factory head unit.

[2,4shofast]

I did my own custom install, power wire went down the passenger side (same side as the battery) and the signal wires went down the drivers side. there is a grommet on the passenger side that I used to push the 4 gauge wire thru. came out right below the ac components. also there are empty channels in the plastic trays on both sides of the car under the carpet that you can use to run the wires to the trunk and not have them pinched or just laying under the carpet. I have ZERO whine also. i can take pictures if you need.


oh, and I bought a 9 in 1 conductor speed wire cable from an audio store about 10 years ago and have transfered it to 3 different vehicles. here is a link of something similar http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-18-GAUGE-9-CONDUCTORS-SPEED-WIRE-20-FT-SPEAKER-WIRE-REMOTE-WIRE-918-20-/150705172582#vi-content

this was you can run the speaker wires and remote turn on wire down the same side in one clean move!

Do you have pictures of your grounding location? Im currently using the upward mounts for the trunk supports with less than great results as the are just tack welded in from what I can remember. I would like to address this issue again in the Spring time so any info would be greatly appreciated!

[bigdhasmoney]

I have my ground on the seatbelt bolt underneath the seat.

[2,4shofast]

I have my ground on the seatbelt bolt underneath the seat.


Thanks, that is also an option I can look into. :beer:

[BirchMarauder]

Do you have pictures of your grounding location? Im currently using the upward mounts for the trunk supports with less than great results as the are just tack welded in from what I can remember. I would like to address this issue again in the Spring time so any info would be greatly appreciated!



I used a grinding wheel on a drill and cleaned off all the paint on some of the metal on the backside of the back seat. Ran a bolt thru one of the holes that are already there. Ground cable is about 10 - 12 inches. I can get a picture if you would like.

[justbob]

Chris, why don't you use that 4 channel for all the speakers and a 2 channel for the sub? I think I ran a 2 gauge down the passenger side to a distribution box. From there I ran to both amps and also to the back up cam leaving at least one more available hook up. My ground is not what I would consider a good solid ground as I also used the trunk support. I will be addressing that and also a better grommet for the hot in the fire wall.http://img.tapatalk.com/aeff5108-87c9-c14c.jpg

[BirchMarauder]

Any pics you have would be great!

I'm not sure if I will be running a 8 or 4 ga wire yet. If I get the amp I want it will accept both but only needs 8 ga to run. I'd probably most likely do a 4 ga in case down the road I add a larger or another amp and then just get a d-block.

How many feet of power wire is need if running down the passenger side and how long for the rca wires? I will be using an in-line converter as well to pick up a signal for the amp up at the factory head unit.

20 feet of power and rca. I think 16 might be too short. Might as well run 4 gauge like u said. I'll have to take pictures as I don't have any ready. I'll will get to that as soon as I can.

[2,4shofast]

I used a grinding wheel on a drill and cleaned off all the paint on some of the metal on the backside of the back seat. Ran a bolt thru one of the holes that are already there. Ground cable is about 10 - 12 inches. I can get a picture if you would like.

Nope the info will do just fine! Thank you.

[ctrlraven]

Chris, why don't you use that 4 channel for all the speakers and a 2 channel for the sub? I think I ran a 2 gauge down the passenger side to a distribution box. From there I ran to both amps and also to the back up cam leaving at least one more available hook up. My ground is not what I would consider a good solid ground as I also used the trunk support. I will be addressing that and also a better grommet for the hot in the fire wall.
I do sit in the backseat so no need to power those speakers, running off the factory HD will power them enough just for fill in. The main reason why I am going with a 4ch is because I only want my fronts louder so I can hear the music over my exhaust instead of cranking the volume up past half way and money saved that can go towards go fast parts and possible a new tune.


20 feet of power and rca. I think 16 might be too short. Might as well run 4 gauge like u said. I'll have to take pictures as I don't have any ready. I'll will get to that as soon as I can.
Thanks!

[boatmangc]

I ran mine pretty much as everyone else said but I went with 2 Ga wire.
I used a Blue Sea 100A ANL fuse.
http://bluesea.com/category/81/21/productline/129

[fesifisky]

I did my own custom install, power wire went down the passenger side (same side as the battery) and the signal wires went down the drivers side. there is a grommet on the passenger side that I used to push the 4 gauge wire thru. came out right below the ac components. also there are empty channels in the plastic trays on both sides of the car under the carpet that you can use to run the wires to the trunk and not have them pinched or just laying under the carpet. I have ZERO whine also. i can take pictures if you need.


Aside from the 9in1, same wiring as me, been working fine since getting the first MM in '06.






Do you have pictures of your grounding location? Im currently using the upward mounts for the trunk supports with less than great results as the are just tack welded in from what I can remember. I would like to address this issue again in the Spring time so any info would be greatly appreciated!


On both MMs I used a bolt between the trunk opening and the disc changer location with no issues(after not fully tighting it the very first time).






I ran mine pretty much as everyone else said but I went with 2 Ga wire.
I used a Blue Sea 100A ANL fuse.

What's the rms range on 2ga? Looking to add a 4channel and a larger 2 channel/mono in the future and am thinking of upgrading from 4

[GetMeMyStogie]

Last time I did a Panther, I ran a fat ground cable to the drivers side of the trunk, into the gap between the quarter panel and trunk floor/side. The cable exitted through a convenient grommet there, where I bolted it straight to the frame.

Oh yeah, I had also run a piece of the same cable from the battery to the frame under the hood.

[MOTOWN]

Probably a JL 300/4 version 1 or 2. Don't really need much power and I know JL amps run cleanly and produce the same power at 12.2 or 14.4 volts. When I use to sell and install mobile A/V stuff years ago I did a lot of budget audiophile systems using that amp with great results, enough power to get the front componets moving good and I've got a low watt rms 12" sub in a sealed box so bridging the rear channels down to 2 ohms will give me enough bump.

Im running the jl 300/4 version 1, and i love it!, i ran 4 gauge wire (20ft) my gound wire is gounded on the back seat bracing (1ft)

im planing to do 0/1 gauge to a distribution block so i can add a sub amp, and maybe a jl w7 12":cool:

[ctrlraven]

Last time I did a Panther, I ran a fat ground cable to the drivers side of the trunk, into the gap between the quarter panel and trunk floor/side. The cable exitted through a convenient grommet there, where I bolted it straight to the frame.

Oh yeah, I had also run a piece of the same cable from the battery to the frame under the hood.
All of the cars I've had that had any type of sound system in it, I usually ran the wire to the frame.


Im running the jl 300/4 version 1, and i love it!, i ran 4 gauge wire (20ft) my gound wire is gounded on the back seat bracing (1ft)

im planing to do 0/1 gauge to a distribution block so i can add a sub amp, and maybe a jl w7 12":cool:
If I get another one it will be my 3rd one that I've owned. lol I had an Eclipse CD5432 HU with 8v preouts, 300/4 and 500/1 in a Honda CRV, moved it to my Cougar then sold it and probably close to 3 years ago I bought another 300/4 and 500/1 setup and just never got around to installing it and sold it to a friend. A lot of my car a/v friends say I swing from JL's nuts but it's the fact the amps do what they claim and sometimes more. In my old CR-V I had the 500/1 bench tested and it was pushing 601 watts at 2 ohms stable and easily did 138.7 db with a single JL 12W3D4 sub in a custom slot loaded box. Sometimes you get lucky and find stuff works well for cheap but the old adage of you get what you pay for sometimes comes into play... for quality sound expect to pay at least $1 per watt for a good amp.

[GetMeMyStogie]

Here's some pics of an MM with the rear bumper cover "removed". You can see there is a grommet on both sides of the car.
http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27 247&d=1326161204

It's easily visible in this pic-------------^^^



http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27 246&d=1326161204

There's one on this side too, a small one and a much bigger one as well --------------^^^

[ctrlraven]

I bought two 4ga amp install kits so I'd have extra wire and accessories for doing the Big 4 upgrade. Both kits came with 17ft of power wire, I will just go ahead and order a spindle of 50ft so I can have some extra to do my Taurus and foxbody as well.

[nwilkes]

Does anyone have a picture or a better description of where you had the amp power wire get from the engine compartment past the firewall and into the passenger compartment??

[BirchMarauder]

Does anyone have a picture or a better description of where you had the amp power wire get from the engine compartment past the firewall and into the passenger compartment??

Pull the passenger side carpet back and u will see a hole u can use to run the power wire. If I get home early enough I will snap a picture of where I have mine.

[BirchMarauder]

http://img.tapatalk.com/47c53767-95b5-68c7.jpg

This is the grommet. I carved a hole the exact size of the wire and slide it thru from inside out since u can't see the grommet from under the hood.

[BirchMarauder]

Here's another pic. The light in the upper corner is the foot light.

[ctrlraven]

Thanks for posting those pics.