im strapping 2 amps, but how do i wire the subs?

[marquisbrah 10+ year member]

i just went out back to look at my amp. from what i could see, there is an "input", which is where i have my rca from my HU. (keep in mind that i dont have the 2nd amp installed yet, just one amp, with 1 sub. the other amp and sub are still not wired) the side shows input,output,and amp-strapping, which has 2 little connections, "in" and "out". the ones unused are remote bass, hi-fi input, output, and amp strapping (amp strapping does not have color coding for RCAs. output does.

what needs to be wired to where?

ill try and attach a pic.

this is my 2nd amp. on the first, i have the rca from the HU to the input. the out put, ampstrapping,hi-fi,subsonic, remote bass, are untouched. where will i wire everything to the second amp? some one in a previous post mentioned something about my first amp being setup for "master" and the second for "slave". what does this mean?

 

[Stryker 10+ year member]

Yes of course there is many different uses for amp strapping, I was just giving an example.

I think in this instance strapping is a good idea, but not really necessary. If they are indeed dual 2's he could run each amp to each sub no strapping and then the amps would see a 1ohm mono load just the same as if they were strapped. As far as gain matching, use a DMM. I run a d class amp(2) to each sub I have and tuned them with out issue as my EQ has a clip light for just that purpose, so the signal is not clipping heavily and killing my subs , although they have there own seperate chamber it should be noted. I'm not sure if this is a common chamber box he's using or not, that would need gain matching for sure, or a DMM.

 

[Stryker 10+ year member]

i just went out back to look at my amp. from what i could see, there is an "input", which is where i have my rca from my HU. (keep in mind that i dont have the 2nd amp installed yet, just one amp, with 1 sub. the other amp and sub are still not wired) the side shows input,output,and amp-strapping, which has 2 little connections, "in" and "out". the ones unused are remote bass, hi-fi input, output, and amp strapping (amp strapping does not have color coding for RCAs. output does.
what needs to be wired to where?

ill try and attach a pic.

I'm gonna find a manual and have a looksie so I'm seeing what you are. BRB

 

[Stryker 10+ year member]

aight, did some checking. You need to use a special plug....

it's a 3.5mm 1/8" tip sleeve mono 2 connector to strap these.

these are available at Radio shack or what have you.

As far as I can tell from the manual I looked at, run an RCA to the first amp from your HU. Now from this amp, use your newly acquired "special plug" and use the out hole and run the other end to the second amp and plug it into the in hole. the amps are now strapped. If you had 3 or 4 or more amps you could keep strapping as many as you like Of course you have to wire the power,ground,and remote to each amp independantly.

Now the wiring of the subs is somewhat tricky but not difficult whatsoever. In the manual both positives on the amps are used and are accepting a wire each from the sub (one neg. and one pos. total)and the negatives on each amp are connected to each other....

this is course an older way of strapping but whatever, each manufacturer is different yet similar. go to this link and download the manual so you can see what I'm saying.

you just wire your subs for a 2ohm load and connect like I've stated. very easy go have a look. click the part where it says "looking for a manual"

Kicker KX1200.1 review - Car Amplifiers

welcome

 

[Stryker 10+ year member]

That kx model amps aren't 1ohm stable. They do full power at 2ohm. I've heard of people running them at 1ohm but by spec they are not 1ohm stable. And as previously stated you aren't strapping them together your just running an amp to each woofer. Sounds more like Daisy chaining is what your referring to.

the 1200.1 is 1ohm stable, the smaller one's are only 2ohm stable, I read the manual.

 

[marquisbrah 10+ year member]

aight, did some checking. You need to use a special plug....it's a 3.5mm 1/8" tip sleeve mono 2 connector to strap these.

these are available at Radio shack or what have you.

As far as I can tell from the manual I looked at, run an RCA to the first amp from your HU. Now from this amp, use your newly acquired "special plug" and use the out hole and run the other end to the second amp and plug it into the in hole. the amps are now strapped. If you had 3 or 4 or more amps you could keep strapping as many as you like Of course you have to wire the power,ground,and remote to each amp independantly.

Now the wiring of the subs is somewhat tricky but not difficult whatsoever. In the manual both positives on the amps are used and are accepting a wire each from the sub (one neg. and one pos. total)and the negatives on each amp are connected to each other....

this is course an older way of strapping but whatever, each manufacturer is different yet similar. go to this link and download the manual so you can see what I'm saying.

you just wire your subs for a 2ohm load and connect like I've stated. very easy go have a look. click the part where it says "looking for a manual"

Kicker KX1200.1 review - Car Amplifiers

welcome

so i SHOULDNT do what the manual says as far as wiring the subs? just the both positives (from subs) and both negatives to one amp? thanks a lot for everything!

 

[Stryker 10+ year member]

so i SHOULDNT do what the manual says as far as wiring the subs? just the both positives (from subs) and both negatives to one amp? thanks a lot for everything!

NO.... follow the manual it's all there.

 

[marquisbrah 10+ year member]

NO.... follow the manual it's all there.

okay from what i was able to understand, I DONT need an RCA from output amp1 to input amp 2?

i need a mono 2 plug right? and this runs from the 'out' hole on amp 1 (amp strapping setting) to 'in' hole in amp 2?

also, the wiring of the sub confused me a bit.

the positive from the sub goes to the positive on amp 1 and the NEGATIVE goes to the POSITIVE on amp 2?

How do i connect the negatives(jack) from amp 1 to amp 2? these dont go to any sub?

im wiring 2 subs, so do i just repeat the process for each sub?

sorry to come at you with all these questions, but ive never read any manuals before this, and im wondering how to go about it. im doing this on my own, with help from a friend, but he doesnt know any more than i do. thanks!

 

[akheathen Premium Member]

once again, i think you are setting up unnecisary risk to your equipment. they can be synced, and have the same matched output as strapping. anyways, follow your manual exact. yes, you install a pair of jumpers from the negative output of one amp to the negative of the other. this makes the 4 amp rails into 2 (one big amp) then, the positive of each becomes the terminals you use as speaker +/-....... one amp is "+" and one "-"......... it's ac, so, there is no polarity, just phasing. and make sure you use good wire, like 8-10awg for the jumpers...... they are passing a lot of power.

 

[marquisbrah 10+ year member]

once again, i think you are setting up unnecisary risk to your equipment. they can be synced, and have the same matched output as strapping. anyways, follow your manual exact. yes, you install a pair of jumpers from the negative output of one amp to the negative of the other. this makes the 4 amp rails into 2 (one big amp) then, the positive of each becomes the terminals you use as speaker +/-....... one amp is "+" and one "-"......... it's ac, so, there is no polarity, just phasing. and make sure you use good wire, like 8-10awg for the jumpers...... they are passing a lot of power.

okay i understand what you mean in the wiring, but how does this pose a risk? so if i wire 2 subs, i will be using the positive of amp 2 with the negatives of subs 1 and 2? and the positive of amp 1, with the positives of subs 1 and 2? i have 4g wire left over, so i can use that to jump from negative to negative right?

so no rca is needed for amp 2 correct? just a mono connector?

i hate to sound repetitive, but i want to be sure that i dont blow my system by making wiring mistakes. thanks!

 

[subzero 5,000+ posts]

http://www.kicker.com/sites/default/files/02KX400_600_1200_1AmplifierManual.pdf

OP, If this manual dont help you, then nothing will. this is simple shit.

http://www.the12volt.com/caraudio/woofer_configurations.asp

http://www.kicker.com/sites/default/files/SoloBaricL72008.pdf

http://www.the12volt.com/caraudio/woofer_configurations.asp?Q=2&I=22

 

[Stryker 10+ year member]

It has all been laid out for you, this is really not that hard....GL to you and your equipment.

now go and do it.

Hopefully you have made the necessary upgrades in the electrical dept.to support your equipment.

 

[wickedwitt 10+ year member]

once again, i think you are setting up unnecisary risk to your equipment. they can be synced, and have the same matched output as strapping. anyways, follow your manual exact. yes, you install a pair of jumpers from the negative output of one amp to the negative of the other. this makes the 4 amp rails into 2 (one big amp) then, the positive of each becomes the terminals you use as speaker +/-....... one amp is "+" and one "-"......... it's ac, so, there is no polarity, just phasing. and make sure you use good wire, like 8-10awg for the jumpers...... they are passing a lot of power.

Ignore this, you're taking on no more risk than wiring each amp incorrectly.

As said before it's just a mono audio cable (pretty standard for tv>external audio, ipod>tv/receivers, the plug you use in all new 'mp3' ready stock head units) from the first amp to the second. I'll have to look at mine but pretty much all of the dials on one amp go null once strapped and everything is controlled by the master.

 

[marquisbrah 10+ year member]

It has all been laid out for you, this is really not that hard....GL to you and your equipment.now go and do it.

Hopefully you have made the necessary upgrades in the electrical dept.to support your equipment.

well im pretty sure i understand it, but i just dont know which way to strap/wire the subs is better.the way akheaten stated makes a lot of sense and is the way closest to what the manual says. but i also undestand there are multiple other way.s

 

---------- Post added at 09:08 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:08 AM ----------

 

Ignore this, you're taking on no more risk than wiring each amp incorrectly.
As said before it's just a mono audio cable (pretty standard for tv>external audio, ipod>tv/receivers, the plug you use in all new 'mp3' ready stock head units) from the first amp to the second. I'll have to look at mine but pretty much all of the dials on one amp go null once strapped and everything is controlled by the master.

a picture would be great. THANKS

 

[subzero 5,000+ posts]

well im pretty sure i understand it, but i just dont know which way to strap/wire the subs is better.the way akheaten stated makes a lot of sense and is the way closest to what the manual says. but i also undestand there are multiple other way.s 

---------- Post added at 09:08 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:08 AM ----------

 

a picture would be great. THANKS

Dude, you have 4 links up there in my post that have illustrations and explanations.