Hey guys

I want to install a switch so that my amp can remain off even when the ignition/ACC is on.

If i place the switch in the remote wire, will it turn the amp off/on respectively (obviously it will be off if the car is off regardless of the switch setting.

I cant switch the power cable. (good luck finding a switch tolerant to a 2 gauge power cable)

Can this be done? or is the remote signal more complicated?

Thanks guys!

Yep... Chuck a switch in line with the remote wire, and it will only turn on with the ign. and H.U. on, and will be able to be turned off with the switch...

i have a circuit breaker from jaycar 120amp rating has the ability to be switched off and also circuit breaker function when current draw exceeds 120amp also a volt meter on it (although it dont work on mine)

and it takes 0 gauge


there you go winner and it was pretty cheap

even cheaper is a battery isolator about $15-20 you connect the + and - leads up to it we have them on machinery at work to lock it out they also are rated to 100+amps

or as above if you just wanna switch off the signal wire

cutting the power completley is better, so if your doing any work on the amps no power is getting to them at all

i have a circuit breaker from jaycar 120amp rating has the ability to be switched off and also circuit breaker function when current draw exceeds 120amp also a volt meter on it (although it dont work on mine)

and it takes 0 gauge


there you go winner and it was pretty cheap

even cheaper is a battery isolator about $15-20 you connect the + and - leads up to it we have them on machinery at work to lock it out they also are rated to 100+amps

or as above if you just wanna switch off the signal wire

cutting the power completley is better, so if your doing any work on the amps no power is getting to them at all

Ah yeah thanks mate!

I was looking at those circuit breakers...the problem is i cant turn them off from inside the car, thats what i need, so looks like the remote wire idea!

Does the amp use any power if the remote wire is inactive?

shouldnt use any power as the remote wire is used to turn the amps on when the head unit turns on
but i may be wrong

Yeah your most likely right. I was thinking it may have had circuit resistance or something. But it is very unlikely.

I'm guessing the remote wire puts out a very low amperage, So i could use a very small switch (2A 125V)?

Well get a multimeter and a friend, meter the power and remote wire on no acc and acc.. THE MEANING OF LIFE = DEFINED.

Well get a multimeter and a friend, meter the power and remote wire on no acc and acc.. THE MEANING OF LIFE = DEFINED.

My multimeter is rated at 10A max, so thats going to do nothing, and i may even blow it up lol. I will check the remote wire though.

Pretty sure the remote wire on my head unit is .5A 3V or something.

Pretty sure the remote wire on my head unit is .5A 3V or something.

Ah yeah, I'll give mine a test anyway, all i really needed to know was if the switch was possible, i'm sure a sub miniature switch! could handle it anyday!

mine is .5A 5V.. So your switching options should be endless, perhaps even a little red toggle switch with an internal LED so you can see it in the dark ;)

Rice is only rice when it's got no purpose ;).

mine is .5A 5V.. So your switching options should be endless, perhaps even a little red toggle switch with an internal LED so you can see it in the dark ;)

Rice is only rice when it's got no purpose ;).

Hehe, yeah anything under 10A is fine, i've a stack of miniature inconspicuous switches which are easy to access but hard to see ;)