Amp placement and wire routing

[valleyrider]

So I am new to car audio but after some research I have decided on and purchased all the components for my bass system. I will be running an SQ2200 amp to a 12" SP4. I am almost finished building my box for it which is about 2.75 cu with 31hz tuning. I am keeping the stock head unit and will be using an LC2i attached to the factory subwoofer inputs to provide the signal to my amp, factory woofer is removed. I ran 1/0 KnuKoncepts ofc wire to amp location. This is a trunk build in my 2013 Hyundai Sonata 2.0t for those wondering.

My question is where to mount the amp. I can either mount the amp and LC2i to the top or rear of my box. Rear seems to look like the cleaner install location but I'm thinking top will provide better airflow for cooling. I prefer the cleaner look but I don't want to have overheating issues not knowing how much airflow is required to keep an amp cool. Which location is ideal for the amp and why?

Also when routing speaker wires from the amp into the box should I aim to avoid all the other wires to minimize interference? I'm trying to figure out idea wire routing based on which location I choose for install and which has the cleanest look.

Here is what the box is looking like so far, its a little rough I still have to put on some final touches and make it look a bit nicer.

Click to read more...

 

[jersyn82]

Vibration is bad on the box. It might shake it apart eventually

 

[Umbra]

You'll want to try for a few inches of space above the amp for the heat to dissipate. If SQ included a manual see if it has any recommendations. Heat rises, so ideally you'd want it flat with the heatsink up, but sideways in fine. If it has heatsink fins orient the amp so they're vertical if space allows. Not that you would, but upside down is a no-no. How warm it gets depends on many variables, but first and foremost it depends on how hard you push it. If you think it's getting to warm you can install 12v fans to create better airflow.

Amp makers figure most people screw the amps to the boxes, so they can take a little abuse, but it's certainly better to reduce this. Having a solid box to reduce flexing is a big help. If you can't mount your amps elsewhere, try to put a rubber mat or something shock absorbing between the amp and box. They sell rubber washers. If you get creative with them you can lift the amp up off the box and they'll reduce vibration at the fastening points.

As far as routing is concerned, rcas are the most susceptible to interference, especially from the amp power cables because they carry low voltage, pre amplified signals. The interference is picked up, passed to the amp, amplified, then sent to your speakers. Use a decent shielded RCA cable (you don't need to go crazy expensive - unless it's old, something you got new for 99 cents on eBay, or you're heading interference, it's probably hood enough). If you need to pass power cables intersect them perpendicular to one another. Avoid running them parallel for long spans. Don't worry about it to much and only come back to it if you having interference problems when everything is set up.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[valleyrider]

I quickly hooked up the amp and lc2 to the back of the box to see how it will look and how much room I will have around it with the seats up. Everything seems to look and fit great so next step will be to do the full cleaner install and try to find some rubber or other vibration damper to go behind the amp. Thanks for the suggestions.

View attachment 26554135