Amp turn on wiring
April-4th-2003, 09:29 AM
#1
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Amp turn on wiring
I'm adding an amp to my system using the Sir Nuke wiring harness / reverse harness method. I've got the wires routed and the power and ground connected, but I dont know which wire to use for the turn on. There are three on the wiring harness. According to the label they are:
Yellow - 12volt battery/constant
Red - 12 volt ignition/switched
Blue - power antenna
I've tried all three, but the amp wont turn on. I'm checking my ground this afternoon, but I think I have a good connection. Which wire did everyone else use for their amps?
Yellow - 12volt battery/constant
Red - 12 volt ignition/switched
Blue - power antenna
I've tried all three, but the amp wont turn on. I'm checking my ground this afternoon, but I think I have a good connection. Which wire did everyone else use for their amps?
April-4th-2003, 09:40 AM
#2
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I tied my amp turn on wire to the ignition lead. Not the greatest solution ever, but it works. Defnitely double check all your wiring, and make sure that you have a good constant power (battery) and ground connections for your amp in addition to the turn on wire being hooked up to constant power.
April-4th-2003, 10:06 AM
#3
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I'd strongly suggest that put in a switch. Unless you are going to be powering your front and rear speakers with the amp. If not, you are proabably using your amp for woofers. Then I doubt you would want your amp to be ON all the time. Its best, in my opinion to splice the REMOTE WIRE to your DECK's constant power and add a SWITCH to turn your amp ON/OFF when you want.
Oh and don't forget to add a fuse on your REMOTE WIRE, close to the SWITCH.
Oh and don't forget to add a fuse on your REMOTE WIRE, close to the SWITCH.
Last edited by mykg4orce; April-4th-2003 at 10:11 AM.
April-4th-2003, 10:31 AM
#4
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Originally posted by mykg4orce
I'd strongly suggest that put in a switch. Unless you are going to be powering your front and rear speakers with the amp. If not, you are proabably using your amp for woofers. Then I doubt you would want your amp to be ON all the time. Its best, in my opinion to splice the REMOTE WIRE to your DECK's constant power and add a SWITCH to turn your amp ON/OFF when you want.
Oh and don't forget to add a fuse on your REMOTE WIRE, close to the SWITCH.
I'd strongly suggest that put in a switch. Unless you are going to be powering your front and rear speakers with the amp. If not, you are proabably using your amp for woofers. Then I doubt you would want your amp to be ON all the time. Its best, in my opinion to splice the REMOTE WIRE to your DECK's constant power and add a SWITCH to turn your amp ON/OFF when you want.
Oh and don't forget to add a fuse on your REMOTE WIRE, close to the SWITCH.
Just run it to the Iginition, it'll turn on when your car comes on, and off when the car goes off (and key is out of ACC position).
April-4th-2003, 11:33 AM
#5
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Originally posted by funkdaddysmack
It doesn't make much sense to wire it that way, why go through the hassle of wiring a switch when you can just run it off the ignition? I'm not sure about the stock HU, but my deck has a remote out. If the HU doesn't, use ignition because it's practically the same thing, except for when you turn your radio off, the amp will still be on when your car is running, but it doesn't matter.
Just run it to the Iginition, it'll turn on when your car comes on, and off when the car goes off (and key is out of ACC position).
It doesn't make much sense to wire it that way, why go through the hassle of wiring a switch when you can just run it off the ignition? I'm not sure about the stock HU, but my deck has a remote out. If the HU doesn't, use ignition because it's practically the same thing, except for when you turn your radio off, the amp will still be on when your car is running, but it doesn't matter.
Just run it to the Iginition, it'll turn on when your car comes on, and off when the car goes off (and key is out of ACC position).
April-4th-2003, 12:16 PM
#7
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pantherES, totaly agree.
funkdaddysmack:
Wiring your REMOTE to your ignition...assumes your a total music junky and that for every second you spend in your car, you listen to a powered speaker. I totally doubt this. In that case, why have a powered source ON along with all your other electrical systems in the car. Why not control the power to the amp by a mere switch that; both looks cool and tells you that your not putting unnecessary stress on your battery.
funkdaddysmack:
Wiring your REMOTE to your ignition...assumes your a total music junky and that for every second you spend in your car, you listen to a powered speaker. I totally doubt this. In that case, why have a powered source ON along with all your other electrical systems in the car. Why not control the power to the amp by a mere switch that; both looks cool and tells you that your not putting unnecessary stress on your battery.
April-4th-2003, 12:30 PM
#8
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But is the amp just for a sub here? Or did we add an amp to the all the speakers? Maybe I missed that...
Another method would be to use a current senseing relay to "sense" current when you turn on the headunit, which will then turn on the amp for you. It is as close as you can come to a remote turn on circut in the Protege running the stock headunit.
And it will make a fine sounding system...
Check out www.davidnavone.com, he sells very nice versions of this rely, or do a search for amp relay on the board, members here have built similar circuts a la radio shack....
David is one of the better minds in audio, and he makes really nice stuff, but one does to the pay for the privilige!!
Let us know how you opt to go!
Another method would be to use a current senseing relay to "sense" current when you turn on the headunit, which will then turn on the amp for you. It is as close as you can come to a remote turn on circut in the Protege running the stock headunit.
And it will make a fine sounding system...
Check out www.davidnavone.com, he sells very nice versions of this rely, or do a search for amp relay on the board, members here have built similar circuts a la radio shack....
David is one of the better minds in audio, and he makes really nice stuff, but one does to the pay for the privilige!!
Let us know how you opt to go!
April-4th-2003, 12:35 PM
#9
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I'm not a music junky and I really don't see what's the problem with listening to the radio with the amp on 
IMHO the only true reason why you should have the amp OFF while driving is when you have the radio/CD off. If not, you might hear noise coming from the speakers all the time while driving.
IMHO the only true reason why you should have the amp OFF while driving is when you have the radio/CD off. If not, you might hear noise coming from the speakers all the time while driving.
April-4th-2003, 01:43 PM
#10
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Originally posted by douggie
I'm not a music junky and I really don't see what's the problem with listening to the radio with the amp on
IMHO the only true reason why you should have the amp OFF while driving is when you have the radio/CD off. If not, you might hear noise coming from the speakers all the time while driving.
I'm not a music junky and I really don't see what's the problem with listening to the radio with the amp on
IMHO the only true reason why you should have the amp OFF while driving is when you have the radio/CD off. If not, you might hear noise coming from the speakers all the time while driving.
Didn't mean to jump on you, I just always have music on in the car, I figured most people do
April-4th-2003, 02:16 PM
#11
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Originally posted by funkdaddysmack
I agree with you, I just think it's weird to have the amp be able to turn off whenever you want to... But that's just me, if I'm listening to the radio, I still want my sub to hit... Do whatever you'd like though
Didn't mean to jump on you, I just always have music on in the car, I figured most people do
I agree with you, I just think it's weird to have the amp be able to turn off whenever you want to... But that's just me, if I'm listening to the radio, I still want my sub to hit... Do whatever you'd like though
Didn't mean to jump on you, I just always have music on in the car, I figured most people do
Yeah, I have music on 99% of the time too, so I guess the switch is for that 1% when you turn the radio/CD off because you want some peace and quietness or really want to focus on your driving
But then with everything off, you hear road noise anyway, so might as well hear something nice -- I'd just lower the volume.
My opinion anyways...
April-4th-2003, 06:15 PM
#12
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The amp is powering my speakers, no subs. I need the space in the hatch. I'm planning to add a switch later, but first I just want to get the thing working. When the amp is off, I'm assuming I can still listen to the radio, just unamplified, right? Or does all signal through the amp cutoff with the power?
But for the wiring, which wire do I splice into? I dont know which are keyed to the ignition.
But for the wiring, which wire do I splice into? I dont know which are keyed to the ignition.
April-4th-2003, 06:30 PM
#13
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um...no...lol
If your powering ur speakers with your AMP and you turn your AMP OFF, the speakers wont work. In this situation I'd suggest SPLICING your REMOTE to your POWER WIRE from the DECK. This way the AMP will turn OFF and ON with the deck.
But for the wiring, which wire do I splice into? I dont know which are keyed to the ignition.
Unless you have a wiring diagram, your gonna have to take a guess and eliminate all the other wires. I have installed on a number of differenc cars and noticed that the POWER WIRE is usually a BLACK cable with a THIN RED STRIPE running along the wire horizontally.
If your powering ur speakers with your AMP and you turn your AMP OFF, the speakers wont work. In this situation I'd suggest SPLICING your REMOTE to your POWER WIRE from the DECK. This way the AMP will turn OFF and ON with the deck.
But for the wiring, which wire do I splice into? I dont know which are keyed to the ignition.
Last edited by mykg4orce; April-4th-2003 at 06:33 PM.
April-4th-2003, 06:35 PM
#14
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Originally posted by mykg4orce
um...no...lol
If your powering ur speakers with your AMP and you turn your AMP OFF, the speakers wont work. In this situation I'd suggest SPLICING your REMOTE to your POWER WIRE from the DECK. This way the AMP will turn OFF and ON with the deck.
um...no...lol
If your powering ur speakers with your AMP and you turn your AMP OFF, the speakers wont work. In this situation I'd suggest SPLICING your REMOTE to your POWER WIRE from the DECK. This way the AMP will turn OFF and ON with the deck.
Dale.
Last edited by DaleK; April-4th-2003 at 06:38 PM.
April-4th-2003, 08:31 PM
#15
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Thanks, I should have known that. 
DaleK: so you spliced into that wire on the right rear of the unit, separate from the harness? Or was it one of the wires running through the harness?
DaleK: so you spliced into that wire on the right rear of the unit, separate from the harness? Or was it one of the wires running through the harness?