61 replies to this topic

[skaterava]

okay, i've decided to add my 200W, two channel amp to the mix, to power the two 6x9's. That should provde a decent boost. Only problem is, i already have a 400W amp powering the subs. Will i need to split the live, remote, and RCA's? If so, how?

[Sam Walters]

Distribution blocks.

[skaterava]

I'll look into those. Thanks!

[Carlzilla]

Distribution blocks for live and earth or if you have masses of cable left from the first amp, cut it down and crimp new ends on,
get splitters for the rca and another short lead,
and the remote can be just looped from the other amp

[skaterava]

the remote can be just looped from the other amp

You're going to have to elaborate on this. Looped?

[minilester]

the remote can be just looped from the other amp

You're going to have to elaborate on this. Looped?

looped?... you mean like daisy chained right?.. yeah you can do that but as i found out the hard way, you wana upgrade you earth strap in the boot and put gold terminals on all the power cables...
heres mine...

2 gold battery terminals with 2 4AWG clamps on each...
a 4AWG gold terminal on the big red power cable that leads up to the engine bay...
an 8inch 4AWG earth strap terminated with gold terminals with the paint work sanded back to bare metal...
this set me back £35 alone... but now runs a 4 way amp with 2 by 100 rms into my 6x9 and 1 by 350 rms into my fli 10" sub...
all the amp it wired with 8AWG wiring and it fused within 18inch of the battery positive terminal with a 60 amp fuse.. all soldered terminals... EVERYWHERE!!
i have now never had a problem with it..at all!!...oh yeah i upgraded the alternator to a 70amp version... which will need upgrading again as i dont think this is enuff over head myself... so if anyone knows where to get a bigger alternator please... let me know...

[Carlzilla]

the remote can be just looped from the other amp

You're going to have to elaborate on this. Looped?

Sorry i mean daisy chained, i was a little tired when i wrote this lol. basically take another piece of remote cable from the current amp, to the new amp

[Carlzilla]

a 4AWG gold terminal on the big red power cable that leads up to the engine bay...

Why on earth have you taken it from the engine bay? The battery is in the boot!
There is also no current drop at the battery either

[skaterava]

So, it's okay to daisy chain a 200W amp to a 400W one via the remote cable?

If i go ahead with this, i'll have a system kicking out 600W, will that be okay with a standard alternator? I've currently got a 400W (ish) system and i've had no alternator issues.

lastly, lester you mentioned upgrading my earth cable and power terminals. I believe my terminals are already gold, and my earth cable is fairly thick. But if this isn't enough, what might happen if i connected it all up?

[Carlzilla]

I.M.O gold terminals dont make that much difference unless you have a very high quality system installed, and yes the remote is fine, its just a low voltage signal to turn the amps on

i have a 70a alternator with a 250w and a 360w amp, id upgrade when you can afford it though even if your alternator is ok for now, just to be on the safe side

[minilester]

well,,,,

i used gold terminals as they were to hand and look very pretty... and it all just makes for better connections!

i soldered big gold terminals on everything as it wont rust.. EVER!

and i now always go overkill on all my wiring so i'll never have to do it twice... do it once, do it right!

so wen i get my 120amp alternator and extra speakers in my 2 X 100WATT AND 350WATT (ALL RMS.. NONE OF THAT "MUSIC POWER CRAP)
i wont get my engine being funny on me and my tacho wont bounce like a nutter any more...

ive very much into car audio so ive been tought to do everything the correct way.. and ive learned from alot of mistakes...

so feel free to use your own opinions... but i build them to out last the car!...

wen you build a big install 1st things 1st, upgrade the big 3!!!!!!!!!!!!

[skaterava]

Alrightey, thanks for the advice guys. Where's the best place to get distribution blocks?

Oh, and how many amps does a standard '87 Mini alternator put out? 45 or 55 amps? Minispares offer a 70amp version for £60, so i might go ahead and get one

Edited by skaterava, 06 July 2010 - 05:47 PM.

[skaterava]

Bumpy bump. I went to halfrauds today and found that while they stock distribution blocks, they didn't have RCA splitters. The assistant then suggested that i didn't need a distribution block, as i could just take another live wire from the battery/ignition. Is this so?

[Carlzilla]

ignition?

I wouldnt listen to him.


You can indeed run another set of wiring from the battery, but thats just messy and uneccessary.
And maplin electronics should have RCA splitters if theres one near you, or possible home entertainment places as rca's are used in home a/v equipment

[skaterava]

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item5886488313

Would this be an appropriate splitter?