A switch - to allow use of my Powered Amp, or Head Unit Amp?

[SmokinBarrel 10+ year member]

Please see attached for question....

Basically, is it possible to have a switch where I can turn on or off the amp? I am using the amp within my boat, and I would like to save battery juice when possible. I figure if I use the head unit amp when listening to ball games, etc.... I may save juice. And when I am ready to kick things up a notch with booty music, I can do that too. What would be the easiest approach.... or, does it really matter, either powered amp or head unit amp will use equal power in relation to volume setting(s).

Click to read more...

 

[akheathen Premium Member]

i wouldn't really say that the hu, and amp would be using the same power. you have to think about idle current and efficiency. head units generally don't need to convert to higher voltage, so you don't have to factor that in. now, how is, your system set up? is the thing in question running the same speakers to be amplified, or switched to running off the head? or, are there different speakers? of course, you can always run a switch on the remote wires, but to move the speakers between hu and amp power, you need to switch each wire/channel with relays. you can set them up so that the relays run the speakers to the head unit normally, and switch to the amp channels when powered, then just run all relays, off on relay(taped to 12v+), since you can only run about 3 relays off the deck remote. you use the deck remote to trigger that one relay. if you have a sub setup, too. that can be triggered/switched isolated, too..... unless you have a full-system single amp, like 5-6 channel....

 

[SmokinBarrel 10+ year member]

So basically, I can add a switch in-between the head unit and amp remote. When I want the amp working I switch It on, and when I just want the head unit amp working I turn the switch off, right? If so, will I have two sets of speaker wire running to the boat speakers? Running from the amp and the head unit each separate runs?

 

[GetLikeMe 10+ year member]

Yes you can i do this with my bass amp in my car. Easy access for shutting off the amp when i see a cop or just dont want my subs on. Its easy. Just buy a switch i got one with a LED so the switch has Power/Remote/Ground, Obviously find a constant power than a ground, than run the remote wire from the amp straight to the switch and not the headunit. Thats it //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif Easy as cake

 

[SmokinBarrel 10+ year member]

GetLikeMe,

So, would this be the wire setup in order to make my amp an option for use - in a nutshell? see attached picture....

 

[Heeltoeclutch 10+ year member]

If I'm understanding what you're saying correctly, if you wire like this when you have the external amp on the speakers will be getting signal from both the HU and the amp if you have two sets of speaker wires running to them. This is unnecessary and I'm not sure if it would cause problems.

 

[SmokinBarrel 10+ year member]

Heel,

Here is another schematic.... If I turn the amp on, then I will get amp power, or the amp powering the speakers.

If I turn off the amp, how will the speakers be powered by the Head Unit when I listen to a ball game?

I guess I am confused about how to wire with the option to utilize the Head Unit with or without the amp.

 

[gunz4me2 10+ year member]

You could do it with some Bosch 5 pin relays, but that will complicate things and make your head spin. For example, flip the switch on and have the relay energize the connection to the speaker outputs of your amplifier, flip the switch off and have it energize the speaker output connection to your head unit.

Either that or just buy an old school a/b selector switch for amplified or hu power.

 

[Heeltoeclutch 10+ year member]

In that last schematic, there is nothing connecting the HU to the speakers. What I'm saying is that when you flip the switch to turn the amp on, in the previous diagram, the speakers will essentially be getting double-powered by both the amp and HU, as you aren't turning the HU's internal amp off.

 

[Heeltoeclutch 10+ year member]

Here:

I have added a DPST switch to each channel. In order for this to work properly, you would need to open the HU switches and close the amp ones when you want to use amp power, otherwise the HU will also feed signal to the speakers. I guess strictly speaking you don't need switches on the amp channels, as the amp would be idle when the HU is powering the speakers.

 

[SmokinBarrel 10+ year member]

Okay, here goes...

Booty Music:

1. Turn 'F3' - On

2. Turn 'F1 & F2' - Off

Ballgame / Radio:

1. Turn 'F3' - Off

2. Turn 'F1 & F2' - On

If correct, what type of switch would I use for F1 & F2?

 

[Heeltoeclutch 10+ year member]

Correct //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

I believe any DPST switch would work - or you could put an SPST switch on each wire for the HU channels and have a ****** row of switches you use your whole hand to turn on/off and be like I'M ON A BOAT!! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif

You keep making me laugh with "booty music" //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

DPST Switch - Equivalent to two SPST switches controlled by a single mechanism

from wikipedia

Dost that all maketh sense?

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

booty music ITT

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

 

[akheathen Premium Member]

the dpdt switches will work if they have another terminal for when they are not energized. so, basically, i'll explain it like you are using a standard relay. 30 goes to the speaker, 87a goes to the head unit speaker output, and 87 goes to the amp output. 85 and 86 run to remote turn on (after your switch) and ground. this way, it only runs the speakers off the amp when you power the amp on. once again, i have to caution you that it is not good to run more than 3 realys, or devices off the hu remote wire, so use another relay to carry the load. the relays can pull up to 200ma (usually a little less, but 200 is a safe engineering number)

amp hu rmt

87 87a 85

! / i

/-------8

/ l

/ l

30 86

spkr gnd

 

[akheathen Premium Member]

^^^ i guess the forum took all my spaces out of the diagram, lol. use your imagination...

^^^