Quote:
Originally Posted by 96paseo
You also need enough 8 gauge power wire to run from your battery to the amp.
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Becareful what guage wire you run. Read the instructions that come with the amp to see what guage wire the manufacture recommends, and use that. In my experience, speaker amps (4/3/2 channel amps that AREN'T class D Sub amps) are fine with 8 guage, but a higher end amp could require something else.
Make sure your power wire from the battery is routed on the other side of the car from the RCAs, remote turn on/signal wire, or speaker level inputs. Not seperating the power wire invites interference into your system and makes it sound like crap.
Use as short a ground as possible, preferably no longer than 18in, that is the same guage as the power wire. Mount the ground directly to the metal of the car. Scrape away the paint until you hit metal, and use some copper or other conductive metal washers too. You shouldn't have to worry about rust ever if you don't gouge the metal too deeply.
Also, if you decide to add a subwoofer to your system later, or plan to at least, try to run the RCA cables for that at the same time. It'll save you a little bit of pain of tearing the car apart again (Ask me how I know...). If you do add a second amp for that sub, then you will need to upgrade the power wire to a thicker guage. And put a higher rated fuse in the power wire's fuse block. And possibly upgrade your battery and alternator as well, depending on how much power you plan on running.
Just a few things to think about when doing it yourself. Goodluck, and don't go deaf from your spiffy new stereo (ask me how I know this...).
