A car audio tech recommended for me to get my system rewired. Am I getting scammed? Or should I go for it?

[1aespinoza 10+ year member]

you think the exposed power cables on an unsecured amp are not dangerous?

On your response to hispls you quoted lack of context usage. Now you do the same to my post. I said "except the bare power cables".

You don't know if the amp is "obviously tucked under the seat". That's just your assumption

Yes, it is just an assumption, but, how many amps have you seen just laying in the rear passenger footwell? I have never seen one. How many have you seen tucked under the front seats? So it is an assumption relying on hindsight.

If that were true, then it means the wires that go under the carpet, would definitely be right under the feet of anyone in the back seat.

I guess there could be a danger in that but most wire is routed under the door sills. Carpet also has the jute padding that would protect against hard abrasions or impacts so there is that.

And the best of their knowledge involves having someone else do what's pictured in their vehicle, and then needing to ask not only an installer if it's cool, but posting it on here to see what feedback we can provide.

Well, yeah. All OP knows is all was working right, then after installing the tweeters he started having issues. His buddy could not make sense of it either hence him going to pro shops and ultimately here.

 

[deez283 10+ year member]

I really do not know what everyone here is going on about this "dangerous" install. The red/black wires are for the 6.5s. Each wire is twisted and taped individually with electrical tape. The blue/black wires go to the sub and are also twisted and taped individually.
That amp obviously goes tucked under the driver's seat but was pulled out for the photo. Like I stated earlier, the only issue I see is the exposed power cables. Add to this the OP's statement that all was working fine and dandy until the Polk tweeter's install.

Because it is a dangerous install, The damn amp is not even mounted for one, with half the power and ground frayed and sticking out of the inputs.. You see no danger in this?

If the installer friend half assed these simple steps I wouldn't count on this being a safe install period.

 

[1aespinoza 10+ year member]

IMO it's more of a "we don't know" but judging by what we can see from the picture it's not unreasonable to expect that there's no

Seeing as installer was able to make sense of the wiring harness, I give him the benefit of the doubt that he knows a main fuse within 18 inches of the battery is standard practice. As for the use of a gromnet, I do see your point in that.

You see no danger in this?

This is the one thing I did highlight. I see many amplifiers not mounted to their base. They are just sitting in the trunk, under the front seats, or under the bench seats. I explain the danger of the amp flying in an accident but most just shrug it off. I too have my full range amp unmounted. Just laziness on my part.

 

[HardofWhoring]

So you're saying 500 is perfectly reasonable or is it BS?

Cool, at least you quoted the entire sentence. Now go back, and read the next sentence.

 

[HardofWhoring]

On your response to hispls you quoted lack of context usage. Now you do the same to my post. I said "except the bare power cables".

Yes, it is just an assumption, but, how many amps have you seen just laying in the rear passenger footwell? I have never seen one. How many have you seen tucked under the front seats? So it is an assumption relying on hindsight.

I guess there could be a danger in that but most wire is routed under the door sills. Carpet also has the jute padding that would protect against hard abrasions or impacts so there is that.

Well, yeah. All OP knows is all was working right, then after installing the tweeters he started having issues. His buddy could not make sense of it either hence him going to pro shops and ultimately here.

No, I read and quoted all of you, and responded to the part that mattered. I didn't leave any out to pick out a response, I responded to one part of it, there's a difference. You can't even see what those other wires are doing, and I didn't even bother with how "wrapped in electrical tape, is good enough".

As far as how many amps are just laying in the footwell, I see this one. OP didn't say it's tucked under the seat, nor did they show it that way. It's not hindsight, and you shouldn't base this install on what you know. It's BASED ON WHAT WE CAN SEE, why are you assuming anything else is done right? My first install when I was 16 was better than this, and that was before youtube. We don't know where those wires are going, and WHY ARE THERE 6 OF THEM? WHY are there 3 power and 3 ground that aren't even part of the sub amp?

Right that's all op knows, (not trying to bash OP right now). Tell me, do you know where that ground cable is going? Do you know if it's got a good ground, or ran back to the battery? Do you really think the rest of the install was done properly? The only thing I'm assuming is that based off this 1.3 out of 10, I'm going to guess the rest was done as bad.

 

[HardofWhoring]

Seeing as installer was able to make sense of the wiring harness, I give him the benefit of the doubt that he knows a main fuse within 18 inches of the battery is standard practice. As for the use of a gromnet, I do see your point in that.

This is the one thing I did highlight. I see many amplifiers not mounted to their base. They are just sitting in the trunk, under the front seats, or under the bench seats. I explain the danger of the amp flying in an accident but most just shrug it off. I too have my full range amp unmounted. Just laziness on my part.

For me, the dangerous part is the combination of the amount of exposed wire, and the lack of securely mounting it. It could shift the amp, shift the cables, and cause an arc.

 

[1aespinoza 10+ year member]

I didn't leave any out to pick out a response

You must have missed when I prefaced with "Only issue I see is those bare power cables". It is in my original response to OP.

As far as how many amps are just laying in the footwell, I see this one. OP didn't say it's tucked under the seat, nor did they show it that way. It's not hindsight, and you shouldn't base this install on what you know.

Lol, I see your point. Let me then ask you; why would you assume the amp was not tucked under the seat before the picture was taken?

I didn't even bother with how "wrapped in electrical tape, is good enough".

FYI, economy electrical tape is rated up to 600v.

It's not hindsight, and you shouldn't base this install on what you know. It's BASED ON WHAT WE CAN SEE, why are you assuming anything else is done right?

Of course it is hindsight. Almost everything that everyone does is based in hindsight. Hindsight and experience walk hand in hand. Do you think OPs installer knew how to connect that amp out the chute? No, someone taught him. Seeing someone do it and applying logic is what made him the professional amp installing god he is today. The reason I assume everything else was done right is because OP told us all was working fine.

We don't know where those wires are going,

Well, we could use hindsight.

WHY ARE THERE 6 OF THEM? WHY are there 3 power and 3 ground that aren't even part of the sub amp?

If OP asked for your help to install an amplifier because his old one was stolen; all you had to go by was those wires in the picture. Would you be able to figure out the wiring at a glance? Also, it is a 5 channel amp.

Tell me, do you know where that ground cable is going? Do you know if it's got a good ground, or ran back to the battery?

No, no, and no.

Do you really think the rest of the install was done properly?

Yes. OP said all was working good. After the tweeter's install he could not go above "half" volume before it started cutting off. This tells me he could go almost full volume before with no issues.

For me, the dangerous part is the combination of the amount of exposed wire

I would agree with you here but I bet the speaker wiring guide is not printed on the amplifier. That means installer read the manual for guidance. Every amp install manual prefaces with safety practice. That is disconnect battery and install a main fuse near the battery

and the lack of securely mounting it. It could shift the amp, shift the cables, and cause an arc.

I concur.

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

Seeing as installer was able to make sense of the wiring harness, I give him the benefit of the doubt that he knows a main fuse within 18 inches of the battery is standard practice.

IDK, man, I've seen some absolutely bizarre stuff in my time. Enough telltale signs of novice install here to expect anything and everything to be done wrong.

I too have my full range amp unmounted. Just laziness on my part.

Fair, and I have done the same in some situations, but would never leave a situation like that in someone else's vehicle.

It's BASED ON WHAT WE CAN SEE,

Also consider the shops he took this to may have seen more and worse elsewhere, hence the 800$ price tag on the fix and their insistence that it is dangerous.

the dangerous part is the combination of the amount of exposed wire, and the lack of securely mounting it. It could shift the amp

Agreed, this is the most glaring issue. But again, if something is left looking like that what else is going on, and what did these shops see in addition to what we are shown?

installer read the manual for guidance

I doubt it. More likely the guy did this just watched some other muff who didn't know what they are doing install a few and figured he knew what to do.

 

[1aespinoza 10+ year member]

IDK, man, I've seen some absolutely bizarre stuff in my time. Enough telltale signs of novice install here to expect anything and everything to be done wrong.

TBH, I have never seen an amp install without the main fuse by the battery. But then again...
I just looked up the amp and it does have the pinout printed on the amp. The installer used blue/black and red/black as front channels, then used the other red/black as sub channel. I would have used blue/black as sub channel for easy identification.
My main point is that using electrical tape for an install is common practice and not a danger to where one would need to rip it all out to redo it "professionally". As for the bare power cables, that happens when the amp moves around. You could wire it in nice and snug with no skin showing but when you move the amp around it will push the sheath back even if you use ferrules.

Also consider the shops he took this to may have seen more and worse elsewhere, hence the 800$ price tag on the fix and their insistence that it is dangerous.

We have been in this hobby long enough to know that alot of shops prey on those who do not know the hobby. My guess is they saw an easy target and gave him the scorched earth spiel.

 

[spokey9 5,000+ posts]

I have never seen an amp install without the main fuse by the batter

There's a guy here at work with one of those

He's a basshead because he runs his subs to 250hz ...those are his words btw

 

[1aespinoza 10+ year member]

There's a guy here at work with one of those

Have you warned him?
Whenever a 250 Hz system pulls up, I just sheepishly turn off mine.

 

[spokey9 5,000+ posts]

Have you warned him?
Whenever a 250 Hz system pulls up, I just sheepishly turn off mine.

I tried helping the guy...offered to help him "clean" up his wiring for free with a bunch of leftover stuff I got...once he found out I was crossed at 80 he blew me off

 

[1aespinoza 10+ year member]

nce he found out I was crossed at 80 he blew me off

Lol! In his mind you are officially labled as a noob.

 

[spokey9 5,000+ posts]

Lol! In his mind you are officially labled as a noob.

The sad thing was embarrassed to admit to running that high I need better midbass

 

[AnthonyO 10+ year member]

The quote for $800 is probably because they will:

1. Have to rip everything out
2. Re run power wire, ground wire, speaker wire, and RCA's
3. Install 6x9's
4. Make an amp rack. Or if he wants it under the seat, make a safe way for it to be mounted there.

Cleaning up someone else's mess can get costly. They are taking the chance of something else being wrong (shorted wires, etc.) and being blamed for it. Just my .02

 

[SlugButter]

Yeah. It’s a good price. The insurance companies, government taxes and property managers are one of the main reasons for high prices in the service industries. You should get a 2nd quote if there is another shop in town.

 

[Deiimos]

To me, the overall setup isn't worth dumping $500 - $800 into just rewiring it. With some time and learning, you should be able to get the wiring sorted / cleaned up yourself. Start with the main power wire, make sure it isn't rubbing anything, has a grommet where needed, fused near the battery, and fix the frayed ends at the amp and or get reducers if required. Then move onto just the speaker wires, do one door at a time, one step at a time. I'd personally swap out that oversized speaker wire with some decent 16 gauge to make wiring it up easier, and would be zero difference in performance in that setup, though this isn't critical and the current wiring can work just fine. If you have the money, or don't want to mess with it, then by all means take it to the shop, but the reality is, shop prices are expensive.

 

[HardofWhoring]

You must have missed when I prefaced with "Only issue I see is those bare power cables". It is in my original response to OP.

Lol, I see your point. Let me then ask you; why would you assume the amp was not tucked under the seat before the picture was taken?

FYI, economy electrical tape is rated up to 600v.

Of course it is hindsight. Almost everything that everyone does is based in hindsight. Hindsight and experience walk hand in hand. Do you think OPs installer knew how to connect that amp out the chute? No, someone taught him. Seeing someone do it and applying logic is what made him the professional amp installing god he is today. The reason I assume everything else was done right is because OP told us all was working fine.


Well, we could use hindsight.

If OP asked for your help to install an amplifier because his old one was stolen; all you had to go by was those wires in the picture. Would you be able to figure out the wiring at a glance? Also, it is a 5 channel amp.

No, no, and no.

Yes. OP said all was working good. After the tweeter's install he could not go above "half" volume before it started cutting off. This tells me he could go almost full volume before with no issues.

I would agree with you here but I bet the speaker wiring guide is not printed on the amplifier. That means installer read the manual for guidance. Every amp install manual prefaces with safety practice. That is disconnect battery and install a main fuse near the battery

I concur.

I didn't want to do this, but this is the last time I'm going to respond to the same thing. At this point, it looks like you are just regurgitating your same answers, and trying to justify them with assumptions. I'll throw a few out at ya.
* You're using hindsight wrong. That's not hindsight. Hindsight would be him looking back on this install after he learns, and figuring out why it was wrong in the first place. Experience is the knowledge you gain to improve what you do forward. Hindsight can only be about the past. It's HIND (forming the part that follows or is behind) - sight.
* I'm not assuming the amp wasn't under the seat. You are assuming it was. WHAT IS IN THE PICTURE?? That's all you KNOW. The rest is your assumption.
* Electrical tape can stop voltage, but it doesn't secure a bundle of cables.
* Working fine, does not mean installed right. You can go ahead take the OP's "professional opinion" on it all working fine, BASED ON THIS PICTURE, but you SHOULD know that's ridiculous, and it's coming across as you're just looking for a reason to argue, even if it doesn't add up. Again, this is your assumption that the rest is instaleld right, because the OP thinks it is.
* The installer read what manual? Again this is your assumption. The only amp we see is the sub amp. Power, ground, remote, and 2 speaker wire inputs.

 

[1aespinoza 10+ year member]

inputs

Here are the reasons of my assumptions and why I think there is little danger in this setup.
1. Bared conductors could cause a spark that leads to a fire. Not a threat once the main fuse instatly pops, all power is cut (again, I assume a main fuse exists).
2. Taped speaker wires could touch each other and cause a fire. Not a threat once the amp gets fried, and there is the tape that is made for this type of project. Amp should have a fuse nearby but I do not see it.
3. Unmounted amp may fly around the cabin in case of an accident. This I do see as a threat.
That is it. BTW, the amp is a 5 channel amp. He has the two front and sub channels connected.