Noob wiring help, 97 4dr jimmy

[Speculant]

I'm installing 2 150watt amps in my friend's car, I already installed the aftermarket stereo and the signal wire and rca wires for the amps. However, I need help with the +12v wire. I've read around, and it looks like I can't just piggyback on the +12v for the stereo or the cigarette lighter, so I have to run my 8ga wire from the battery directly, which I am fine with. However, I can't seem to find a hole in the firewall that already isn't being used by anything. Can I just make a hole in one of the sheathes that is currently going through the firewall and kind of "slide" the +12v cable in?

Also, do I need to ground the battery to the car frame? Because it already looks like it is...

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[grandam888 10+ year member]

im not sure if you need to be installing car audio if your trying to run your B+ wire from your radio or cigarette lighter.

but if you must go on doing it yourself, you can run the wire through the firewall by using a coat hanger through the existing grommets in the firewall, then taping your 8 gauge to the coat hangers end, then pull it through. or you can use a fiberglass rod made for fishing wires though ceilings, or a fish tape.

Or you can drill a new hole, but be very cautious on where u drill it as you take a risk of drilling a hole through your heater core or other important parts in your dash/engine compartment. and be sure if your make a new hole to use a rubber/plastic grommet as over time the jagged metal of the newly drilled whole can eat through the wire insulation and directly short the power wire causing your car to catch on fire/ or blow the inline fuse @ the battery

be sure to use an inline @ the rated slightly above amperage of amplifier. If your amp has 2 25 amp fuses, go with a 60-70 amp fuse inline for safety.

 

[Wingsfreak9 10+ year member]

I'm installing 2 150watt amps in my friend's car, I already installed the aftermarket stereo and the signal wire and rca wires for the amps. However, I need help with the +12v wire. I've read around, and it looks like I can't just piggyback on the +12v for the stereo or the cigarette lighter, so I have to run my 8ga wire from the battery directly, which I am fine with. However, I can't seem to find a hole in the firewall that already isn't being used by anything. Can I just make a hole in one of the sheathes that is currently going through the firewall and kind of "slide" the +12v cable in?
Also, do I need to ground the battery to the car frame? Because it already looks like it is...

make your own hole. drill thru the firewall and use a rubber grommet to protect the wire. just make sure when you come out on the other side you arent going to hit anything important. and as far as the ground goes just ground it to something in the trunk. make sure its a good ground though check using a dmm

 

[Speculant]

im not sure if you need to be installing car audio if your trying to run your B+ wire from your radio or cigarette lighter.
but if you must go on doing it yourself, you can run the wire through the firewall by using a coat hanger through the existing grommets in the firewall, then taping your 8 gauge to the coat hangers end, then pull it through. or you can use a fiberglass rod made for fishing wires though ceilings, or a fish tape.

Or you can drill a new hole, but be very cautious on where u drill it as you take a risk of drilling a hole through your heater core or other important parts in your dash/engine compartment. and be sure if your make a new hole to use a rubber/plastic grommet as over time the jagged metal of the newly drilled whole can eat through the wire insulation and directly short the power wire causing your car to catch on fire/ or blow the inline fuse @ the battery

be sure to use an inline @ the rated slightly above amperage of amplifier. If your amp has 2 25 amp fuses, go with a 60-70 amp fuse inline for safety.

I quickly figured out that the max load on most of those small wires (used for cigarette lighter sockets and radios) is ~100w, I'm not completely retarded.

Thanks for the idea about the coat hanger, though. I think I might try to find and use the same hole in the firewall that the antenna goes through, and if not then I will make a new hole on the drivers side, because the signal and audio cables run thru the passenger side. Also, I kind of knew about the grommets and inline fuse adapter (I bought a 8ga wiring kit, but I prefer to use my own speaker wire and stuff, I basically just bought it for the power wire, inline fuse and long RCA cable).

make your own hole. drill thru the firewall and use a rubber grommet to protect the wire. just make sure when you come out on the other side you arent going to hit anything important. and as far as the ground goes just ground it to something in the trunk. make sure its a good ground though check using a dmm

I was thinking about getting a multimeter, once I get one, I assume I attach the red clip to the +12v line I ran to the trunk and the black clip to anywhere I think I might get a ground, and it will (hopefully) be a complete circuit.

 

[Speculant]

I successfully installed it, I couldn't find a usable hole in the firewall so I ran it into the trim from the left side of the car, through the door. I used a nut on the back hinge for the ground, I didn't have to attach an additional ground for it to work.

 

[Tjintopeka]

I successfully installed it, I couldn't find a usable hole in the firewall so I ran it into the trim from the left side of the car, through the door. I used a nut on the back hinge for the ground, I didn't have to attach an additional ground for it to work.[/quote
Thats a good way to pinch the wire and blow the fuse/ possibly mess some **** up.

 

[Speculant]

Well, *shrug* seems fine to me, I attached it in such a way that the wire doesn't get pinched between metal pieces.

 

[daboyfrumdabx 10+ year member]

Well, *shrug* seems fine to me, I attached it in such a way that the wire doesn't get pinched between metal pieces.

Come back an update us on that wire's status in a year...after the car burns to the ground. Do it right. Drill a hole. The guys in posts 2 and 3 both told you to drill a new hole. There is a reason for that.