Tell me if theres anything I'm doing wrong in this setup

[scotchnsoda 10+ year member]

I'll have a 4 gauge power wire running from the battery to the trunk where a distribution block will be located. There will be an 70 or 80 amp inline fuse near the battery. From there, two 8 gauge wires will power a 200 watt 4 channel amp (25 amp fuse) and a 350 watt mono amp (2x20 amp fuse). The mono amp is currently installed and running a JL 10w3. Both will be grounded at the same point.

RCA cables will run from the alpine HU to the mono amp, and from the mono amp to the 4-channel (via a 2ft rca from the mono's output to the 4-channel's input). 2 remote cables will run from the HU to their designated amp. Speaker wire will run from the 4 channel amp to the Infinity Reference 6022si's in the door.

I have a few questions about the set up.

1. Does the distribution block give equal power to both amps, even though I'm only using 100 watts on one and 350 on the other? Will that underpower one of them?

2. Do I need a fused distribution block even though theres a fuse near the battery?

3. Am I using the correct inline fuse? I was told that it should be between the total of fuses in the amp but less than 125 amps (for a 4 gauge wire).

4. This is a pretty small amount of power, but will I need a new alternator or battery or anything? What about the big 3?

Thanks to anyone who took the time to read this and can answer any or all of the questions above. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

Click to read more...

 

[thegreatestpenn 5,000+ posts]

1)distro doesn't "give power" amps ask for power by drawing whatever current they need to work at their set gain.

2)fused distro is needed before you possibly start a fire

3)fuse size should be fine

4)no new alt/batts needed, but it won't hurt if you plan to upgrade later on

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

1. It will be fine

2. Some people say whenever you change wire size you should fuse...I usually dont

3. Should be fine

4. It's always a good idea to do the big 3

But you have your RCA's ****ed up man, you need to run 2 sets from the HU, you can't just jump them from one amp to the other.

 

[scotchnsoda 10+ year member]

Thanks for the quick replies, everyone. I guess it wouldn't hurt to fuse after the distro block.

1. It will be fine2. Some people say whenever you change wire size you should fuse...I usually dont

3. Should be fine

4. It's always a good idea to do the big 3

But you have your RCA's ****ed up man, you need to run 2 sets from the HU, you can't just jump them from one amp to the other.

I only have one set of outputs on the HU.

http://www.caraudiohelp.com/newsletter/multiple_amplifiers.htm

This source says if you don't have two outputs, the next best thing is to run them in line.

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

Thanks for the quick replies, everyone. I guess it wouldn't hurt to fuse after the distro block.

I only have one set of outputs on the HU.

http://www.caraudiohelp.com/newsletter/multiple_amplifiers.htm

This source says if you don't have two outputs, the next best thing is to run them in line.

What HU is it? Because most of the time if they only have 1 set of pre-outs (RCA jacks) then it's for a sub out, and if you hook your 4 channel up to that, it will sound like shit.

 

[Goindef154 5,000+ posts]

What deck is it?

 

[scotchnsoda 10+ year member]

Alpine CDE-9870

 

[grimreper912003 5,000+ posts]

1)distro doesn't "give power" amps ask for power by drawing whatever current they need to work at their set gain.2)fused distro is needed before you possibly start a fire

3)fuse size should be fine

4)no new alt/batts needed, but it won't hurt if you plan to upgrade later on

The distro block doesnt supply power, so no need to fuse but you can.

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

Well you may be in luck, your pre-out is for the front. So provided there's no kind of filter built into that deck (shouldn't be) you should be fine.

 

[thegreatestpenn 5,000+ posts]

The distro block doesnt supply power, so no need to fuse but you can.

it doesn't, but if there's a current spike in the 8ga. with no fuse to break the current flow, there will be a fire.

 

[scotchnsoda 10+ year member]

Well you may be in luck, your pre-out is for the front. So provided there's no kind of filter built into that deck (shouldn't be) you should be fine.

So I should run the rca cables from the HU to the 4 channel and from the 4 channel to the mono?

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

Well, if the amp's rca outs aren't filtered or anything it wouldn't matter.

 

[scotchnsoda 10+ year member]

Oh, ok cool. I don't think they are, but how can I tell for sure?

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

Check the manual, it should say in there.

 

[mokedaddy 5,000+ posts]

it doesn't, but if there's a current spike in the 8ga. with no fuse to break the current flow, there will be a fire.

While this is somewhat correct in theory the fact that he is using an such a small fuse up front and short lengths of 8 ga, the current capacity of the upfront fuse does not exceed 8 ga so he would be fine in this instance.

To the OP:

You may need a rca y-adapter for the 4-channel, otherwise looks ok