Beginner question

[eus090474 10+ year member]

I am installing component speakers and an amp for them. How does the wiring work? Do I wire straight from the crossover to the amp and just cap the existing speaker wire that is coming from the head unit?

Also, with getting a power distribution block, should I just run power from the battery to the block, ground the block, then run a power cable (with fuse) from that to each amp?

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[AlterEgo99 5,000+ posts]

I am installing component speakers and an amp for them. How does the wiring work? Do I wire straight from the crossover to the amp and just cap the existing speaker wire that is coming from the head unit?
Also, with getting a power distribution block, should I just run power from the battery to the block, ground the block, then run a power cable (with fuse) from that to each amp?

You need to get the signal from the HU to the amp, then speaker outs from amp to your crossovers. You have RCA outs on the HU?

I would strongly suggest a fuse 18" or closer to the positive post on your battery. This will be between the battery and the dist block. This is common as you don't want the wire itself to heat up and catch fire before the fuse blows. This can mean very bad things to your car in general, like burning to the ground. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[eus090474 10+ year member]

I already have an old amp and sub in there so I already have the power cable connected to the battery. Does the dist block stay by the battery or in the car by the amps?

I also have a Kenwood HD942U head unit so I have the RCA's on it. So running the rca to the amp and the amp to the crossovers is fine? I can just cap the existing speaker cables from the head unit to the speakers?

Sorry I am completly new to this kind of setup. Thank you for your patience

 

[91Chevy 10+ year member]

I already have an old amp and sub in there so I already have the power cable connected to the battery. Does the dist block stay by the battery or in the car by the amps?

Dist block will be closer to the amps, just so that you need less wire.

I also have a Kenwood HD942U head unit so I have the RCA's on it. So running the rca to the amp and the amp to the crossovers is fine? I can just cap the existing speaker cables from the head unit to the speakers?

RCA's send the signal to the amp; you also need a remote lead from the headunit, which tells the amp to turn on. From the amplifier output channels, you run speaker wire to the Crossover input. You then run speaker wire from the crossover outputs to the mid and tweeter.

 

[eus090474 10+ year member]

So if I have more than one amp do I just solder the two remote lead wires to the same wire coming out of the HU?

 

[shellfish 10+ year member]

yup, no need for anything serious it barely carries any current

as long as it shows 12v with the car on your good.

 

[91Chevy 10+ year member]

So if I have more than one amp do I just solder the two remote lead wires to the same wire coming out of the HU?

You could also just run the remote into one amp, then run the remote out of that amp to the other amp. Any more than 2 or 3 things on the wire you should use a relay.

 

[AlterEgo99 5,000+ posts]

You could also just run the remote into one amp, then run the remote out of that amp to the other amp. Any more than 2 or 3 things on the wire you should use a relay.

x2...relays...good! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[eus090474 10+ year member]

Everbody has been great so far and I hate to push my luck but I have one more question in regards to mounting the crossovers that came with the component speakers. Any tips? I am seeing that mounting inside the door is bad, but if that is the case where on earth should I mount it. Then I have heard that if it is in the door that it should be wrapped in plastic. Any pointers?

 

[krainium 10+ year member]

Mine are mounted in my glove box.

 

[AlterEgo99 5,000+ posts]

I have a removeable panel on each end of my dash...driver side for the fuse box, passenger side for some relays and such...I stuffed them in there...just took the pretty covers off so they would fit. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif

 

[widgit117 10+ year member]

I built an amp rack and I put both my crossovers and both amps on it. Works well as the crossovers are out of sight and close to the amps when needed to work on them. The amp rack is on my hatchback cover.

 

[eus090474 10+ year member]

Shouldnt the crossovers be close to the speakers?

 

[AlterEgo99 5,000+ posts]

I could be wrong but I don't really think it matters? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/ponder.gif.ec2527b23f1d287b60dcbba54f95edba.gif

I have located mine near the door hinges...I don't think I have done that for any other reason than there was a place to put them and it made sense.

 

[eus090474 10+ year member]

What do you guys think about the idea of using my old truck box (Had a 10" sub) turning it around and mounting the amps and crossovers to that? It basically looks like this one, I would just face the opening towards the seats and mount the amps to the back and the crossovers to the side. Then I could run the wires out of the opening where the sub used to be. Just an idea, please dont light me up too bad