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I had to have a look at Roadmaster's website just for kicks since there is one of those awful Wal-Mart VR3 amps for sale in the Classifieds. I found this and reckoned it was worth sharing for a giggle.
Courtesy of our friends at Roadmaster:
CAR STEREO AMPLIFIER INSTALLATION : "WHAT NOT TO DO" LIST 1. Amplifiers generate lots of heat. Air flow across the surface of the heat sink is essential.
DO NOT MOUNT AN AMPLIFIER UNDER CARPET OR IN UNVENTILATED COMPARTMENTS. If possible, a 12 volt fan blowing on the heat sink surface will keep the amplifier running cooler.
2. Subwoofers draw lots of current from an amplifier. TO AVOID PROBLEMS, NEVER CONNECT TWO SUBS IN PARALLEL (+ to+ & - to-) UNLESS YOU KNOW THAT THE AMPLIFIER CAN HANDLE THE LOAD. Automotive speakers have an impedance of 4 Ohms (Ω). Wiring two subs in parallel results in a 2 Ω load. MANY CAR STEREO AMPLIFIERS ARE STABLE AT 2 Ω PER CHANNEL, BUT WHEN YOU "BRIDGE" 2 CHANNELS, THEY ADD OUTPUT POWER AND IMPEDANCE. So, 2 Ω + 2 Ω = 4 Ω MINIMUM. VR3 amplifiers are not rated to handle 2 Ω loads in "Bridged" mode.
3. If you purchase a Dual Voice Coil Subwoofer, such as the RSW80 8", VSW120 12", or VSW150 15", be sure to wire both voice coils. This will ensure that the entire woofer is being operated, not just half. Wire the coils in parallel (+ to+ & - to-), series (+- +-), or connect each coil to one channel of a stereo amplifier. Consult the Technical Information button on
http://www.roadmasterusa.com for a dual voice coil speaker wiring diagram.
A. Series = 8 Ω
B. Parallel = 2 Ω
C. Each Coil = 4 Ω
4. The remote terminal on car stereo amplifiers must be connected to a switched 12 volt source. It is okay to jumper the power (+) to the remote for testing purposes, but youshould
NEVER LEAVE THE POWER JUMPERED TO THE REMOTE. IT WILL DRAIN YOUR BATTERY OVERNIGHT.
5. If your car stereo head unit does not have RCA output jacks, you must connect to the front or rear speaker wires.
TO AVOID PROBLEMS THAT MAY RESULT FROM IMPROPER WIRING, ALWAYS USE A HIGH LEVEL TO LOW LEVEL CONVERTER. These are available at Wal-Mart, Radio Shack, or car stereo dealers. Just tell the salesman that you need a converter to connect speaker wires to the RCA inputs of an amplifier.