Powering a car amplifier with a power supply, such as a charged car battery, requires two steps. The amplifier acts as any circuit and needs negative and positive supplies in order to work. The power wire, equipped with a fuse, runs all the way up to the car battery and connects to the positive terminal, completing the positive supply. The ground wire bolts directly to the vehicle's body, completing the negative supply, thus powering the amplifier.
Instructions
Connecting the power wire
1. Connect the power wire to the amplifier by plugging in the power wire's amplifier input into the amplifier's power output. It should be labeled on the amplifier, but if not, refer to the amplifier's wiring diagram for the power wire output's location.
2. Disconnect the negative terminal from the battery for safety reasons and run the power wire along to the front of the vehicle underneath the dashboard area, such as near the brake and acceleration pedals.
3. Fold the carpeting back if necessary and look for a hole in the vehicle's body that will allow you to run the power wire through into the engine bay. You may have to cut a hole through the firewall with an X-Acto knife in order to complete this step.
4. Run the power wire through the hole and into the engine bay and connect the power wire's power source input to the positive terminal on the battery. You can do this by disconnecting the positive terminal and bolting it back on over the power wire's power source input. Install a rubber grommet around the hole to prevent water from leaking into the interior.
5. Connect the fuse to the power wire if necessary by plugging it in. Most power wires already have the fuse connected. The fuse should be installed as close to the battery as possible because in the case of a short circuit, the wire will burn up to the point of the fuse.
Connecting the ground wire
6. Mount the amplifier in a cool, well-ventilated area such as the trunk to prevent overheating.
7. Connect the ground wire's amplifier input to the amplifier. Refer to the amplifier's wiring diagram if you can't figure out where the ground output is located.
8. Find a nut or screw within 18 inches of the amplifier. This is what you'll connect the ground wire to.
9. Unscrew the nut or screw and chip away any paint on the body of the vehicle around the screw to give the ground wire direct access to metal.
10. Place the ground wire's lead, which is shaped like a circle, over the hole the nut or screw was bolted into and bolt the nut or screw back over the ground wire to complete the circuit.
Tags: power wire, ground wire, positive terminal, wire amplifier, amplifier input
