A 12v power source for LED, inside of amp?

[F A T B O Y 10+ year member]

I'm putting a strip of LED's inside my amp, and i was wondering where i could grab power from to power them?

My amp (AP3001d) already had an LED on the front, so i took the + and - from there and soldered my LED strip to it, but it obviously wasn't enough power. (didn't work)

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[F A T B O Y 10+ year member]

Was also wondering...

Are these 12v power wires constant, or do they only have power when the H/U is on? I mean, if i used these as a power source for my LED's, would they stay on always or just when i turn the key?

 

[grimreper912003 5,000+ posts]

I personally would run a wire outside of the amp and power it with a relay.

 

[legendndisguise 10+ year member]

Just hook the LED's up to the positive and negative side of the input. They should only turn on when the head unit sends the signal to the amp to turn on from the remote wire.

 

[F A T B O Y 10+ year member]

Just hook the LED's up to the positive and negative side of the input. They should only turn on when the head unit sends the signal to the amp to turn on from the remote wire.

That means tapping into the big power wires i have arrow'd in the pic, right?

If so, how should i do that? Wrap the wire around it, and then solder?

 

[daboyfrumdabx 10+ year member]

Can't answer most of this but as far as whether those wires are switched or constant....I'm gonna say switched for the reason that the amp is also switched. So the amp only comes on when you turn the key, the led's would only come on if the amp is on. get what I'm saying? Nothing that you hook up to your amps power source is going to stay on with the key off. If it does, you've got bigger problems.

 

[grimreper912003 5,000+ posts]

Those wires sould be constant. And not both of them are positive. Why not get out a DMM and check?

 

[F A T B O Y 10+ year member]

Those wires sould be constant. And not both of them are positive. Why not get out a DMM and check?

I know one is ground and one is positive. And i'll hook it back up and find out if they are constant or not with a DMM tomorrow, the amp is in my kitchen right now, put my new plexi faceplate on. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[grimreper912003 5,000+ posts]

Seriously, just run a positive and negative out side of the amp. Dont tap into the amps internals.

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

OP you do not seem like you have the knowledge to be doing this...I would advise against it

If you tap into the positive and negative inputs the led's will be on all the time. If you attempt to run them off the remote turn on wire, it may be too much current and damage your HU. Your best bet would be to install a relay inside the amp, and use the power, ground, AND remote turn on inputs.

 

[F A T B O Y 10+ year member]

OP you do not seem like you have the knowledge to be doing this...I would advise against it
If you tap into the positive and negative inputs the led's will be on all the time. If you attempt to run them off the remote turn on wire, it may be too much current and damage your HU. Your best bet would be to install a relay inside the amp, and use the power, ground, AND remote turn on inputs.

This is more like the info i was looking for.

And no, i don't have much knowledge when dealing with amp internals.

I know what a relay is, but i'm not sure how i'd use it to make my LED's work. I'll probably just end up grabbing a 12v constant from my rear batt, and running the ground to a toggle switch.

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

This is more like the info i was looking for.
And no, i don't have much knowledge when dealing with amp internals.

I know what a relay is, but i'm not sure how i'd use it to make my LED's work. I'll probably just end up grabbing a 12v constant from my rear batt, and running the ground to a toggle switch.

It's not hard to wire a relay man, just check http://www.bcae1.com

I know for a fact they have an entire page devoted to wiring them. (Page 36)

 

[F A T B O Y 10+ year member]

Wow dude great information. Now i know what a relay does, but i'm still confused as to how i'd wire it? Good site though, glad you linked me to it.

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

Indeed, the guy that made that site is a genius...

Look at it this way, I relay has 5 terminals. For what your doing, your only going to need 4 of them and they're labeled with numbers.

85 goes to the remote turn on lead

87 is goes to the positive side of your led's (negative side of your led's goes to the battery negative wire)

86 is grounded (Gnd terminal or battery -)

30 goes to the main 12v+ line coming in

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

BTW, don't feel bad if you don't remember exactly which terminals do what, I never do. You just need to read that page to understand how a relay works, then you'll be able to just look at the diagram to know which terminals to wire to what.