Ok so I bought a sub/amp today. Question: how do I power it?

I thought maybe the power wiring would go like this (keeping in mind I've already got a response 4channel amp connected)

battery - response amp - sub amp - ground

am I right? or is this a stupid assumption?

Cheers guys

what guage is the power wire?
all you would need it a distrobution block and attach it to the cable coming from the battery, then add how ever many power cables needed to power your amps (in your case two)
shouldnt be more then about 20 dollars
both amps have seperate grounds to, but can meet at the same spot when touching the chassy (metal)

wire is 8gauge :D

where can i get a distribution block from? jaycar?

thanks for the quick response btw

Just checked jaycar website, off to buy a dist block! thanks mr roberto

wire is 8gauge :D

where can i get a distribution block from? jaycar?

thanks for the quick response btw

Just checked jaycar website, off to buy a dist block! thanks mr roberto

Its probably best if you buy some 4 guage and then split into 2 8guage wires for the amps... Pulling the power for 2 amps through an 8 guage isnt the best idea (Although I dont know the specs of your amps...)

yeah ill see how it goes and if its not good enough ill upgrade...

another question... the sub has two inputs for speaker wire (pos and neg i assume) but the amp has RCA inputs... do i need to buy some RCA plugs and solder them to one end of my speaker wire?

sorry if its a dumb question

The pos and neg would go from the subs to the amp and the rcas would go back to the headunit.

sorry ill explain a bit better.

i have RCAs going from the amp to the headunit, thats all taken care of. the sub is in a box with an amp mounted on the side. i need to connect the sub to the amp to get power.

BUT the amp does not have any places for speaker wire, only RCA inputs/outputs. so my question is; do i need to get a cable which has speaker wire on end and RCAs on the other?

make sure its not in series dood.

make sure its not in series dood.

:) what do you mean?

sorry ill explain a bit better.

i have RCAs going from the amp to the headunit, thats all taken care of. the sub is in a box with an amp mounted on the side. i need to connect the sub to the amp to get power.

BUT the amp does not have any places for speaker wire, only RCA inputs/outputs. so my question is; do i need to get a cable which has speaker wire on end and RCAs on the other?

Mate, trust me the amp will have places for speaker wire! It will probably be on the opposite side of the amp to where the RCA's plug in.

Edit: The Rca out is for if you have another amp in the boot, and instead of running more RCA's back to the HU, you just buy a 1m RCA and connect them up.

it honestly doesnt! haha i have looked all over :D just input and output RCA-ins

as you may find if purchased as a pre amped sub its pre wired. just hook up the rca's and see.

it honestly doesnt! haha i have looked all over :D just input and output RCA-ins

What brand and model, is the amp?

ive had a quick peek inside at what im able to see through the holes, and basically it looks like the sub is wire to two outputs on the back of the box where speaker wire goes in (like the ones on the back of stereos)... the amp is mounted on the side, doesnt look like its connected

but ill give it a shot nonetheless

its an old amp, pioneer gm x402... ive looked for it on the net but i get a different version of it... the one that i have looks like its for a sub as it doesnt have numerous inputs/output, just the one

just took the amp off the box, no connection between sub and amp at all

Just unscrew the woofer. then all will be clear.

its an old amp, pioneer gm x402... ive looked for it on the net but i get a different version of it... the one that i have looks like its for a sub as it doesnt have numerous inputs/output, just the one

just took the amp off the box, no connection between sub and amp at all

Can you upload some pics of it for us?

:) what do you mean?


Don't daisy chain the amps (eg negative on one to positive on the other)

http://buphy.bu.edu/py106/notes/Circuits.html

duly noted mrmacomouto, ive got one power cable going from battery to distribution block, then a power cable going to each amp separately. is that good?

rory, just trying to find usb cable for my phone and ill upload

really sorry about the quality, but you get the idea!

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c294/guitar_is_god/23052009001.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c294/guitar_is_god/23052009002.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c294/guitar_is_god/23052009.jpg

first pic shows power and ground terminals, and input/output RCAs

second pic is of other side, first dial is input level (dunno what that is...), then LPF/HPF, and bass boost

and thats all there is!

Look between the RCA's and the ground/power. Looks like this is where your gonna have to hook up your speaker wire..

Look between the RCA's and the ground/power. Looks like this is where your gonna have to hook up your speaker wire..

****, how am i gonna manage that?

EDIT:this is what that little bit looks like

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c294/guitar_is_god/Untitled.jpg

seems like your missing a harness of some sort
also i dont see anywhere where your going to put your remote wire

oh and i would also be fixing those exposed wires (power and ground)
if they came into contact it could turn nasty

seems like your missing a harness of some sort
also i dont see anywhere where your going to put your remote wire

oh and i would also be fixing those exposed wires (power and ground)
if they came into contact it could turn nasty

i just thought of that remote wire... this amp must be ancient! god damnit :'(

yeah wires are just like that to test it all out

EDIT: found this on yahoo answers

"on the plug there are 3 connectors with screws one is called
SYSTEM CONTROL that is the remote input ,remote wire
good luck"

JUST REALISED!!!!!!!!!

look what i found

http://ampguts.realmofexcursion.com/Pioneer_GM-X402/outside2.jpg

look whats in between the power and the RCAs... i need that!

the second pic of the amp you have only taken photo of half of that side where is the rest of the amp?
the side with bass boost and HPF/LPF on it take pic of that entire side for us to see.

nothing else on it dude, just took the picture cos that's all that's there - just says "BRIDGEABLE POWER AMPLIFIER"

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c294/guitar_is_god/23052009001.jpg




http://ampguts.realmofexcursion.com/Pioneer_GM-X402/outside2.jpg



Looks to me that these two amps are different.

The second ones looks like an updated version of the first, with proper speaker terminals and a remote wire input.

My recommendation - buy another amp!

My recommendation - buy another amp!

hmmm... I think I just need wiring harness to slot into that bit...

wanna sell me an amp onky? :hmm:

hmmm... I think I just need wiring harness to slot into that bit...

wanna sell me an amp onky? :hmm:

Wiring harness for sure bud...

Comparing the two amps pictured, its seems they call the 'remote' or 'acc' input as 'system control'.

Now judging by the very hard to see picture of your amp, seems the 'system control' is the middle input on the top row of the wiring harness.

Try seeing what kinda 'clips' are on the inside of the wiring harness on the amp. Maybe there are some other type of electrical connectors you can use and plug wires in individually.

Wiring harness for sure bud...

Comparing the two amps pictured, its seems they call the 'remote' or 'acc' input as 'system control'.

Now judging by the very hard to see picture of your amp, seems the 'system control' is the middle input on the top row of the wiring harness.

Try seeing what kinda 'clips' are on the inside of the wiring harness on the amp. Maybe there are some other type of electrical connectors you can use and plug wires in individually.

yes, system control is the top middle wire.. do you think it'd be safe to solder a connection (i.e. plug) to the end of a piece of thin wire and just connect this to that system control/remote/acc connection?

I bought some RCA connections to solder on the end of some speaker wire so I can connect the sub to the RCA outputs on the amp.. is that right?

go to jaycar or jbhifi or worse case cashies and buy a newer amp that think was prob around when your dad was your age.

go to jaycar or jbhifi or worse case cashies and buy a newer amp that think was prob around when your dad was your age.

lol leave it alone, it was cheap!

EDIT: if all this tomfoolery doesnt work, im going to need to get another amp, i realise that :(

yes, system control is the top middle wire.. do you think it'd be safe to solder a connection (i.e. plug) to the end of a piece of thin wire and just connect this to that system control/remote/acc connection?

I bought some RCA connections to solder on the end of some speaker wire so I can connect the sub to the RCA outputs on the amp.. is that right?

I think it would be okay, as long as it is secure.

However, connecting the sub via the RCA outputs is a not a good idea I think, as you would want to use the bridged power of the amp to fire up the sub.

Would need to connect to these red outputs as indicated:
[+] [-] [O] [+] [-]
[+] [-] [_] [+] [-]
Outputs _ Inputs

thanks onky... now i've just got to figure out the best way to wire them up..

The rca out on your amp wont power a speaker. Its for using a second amp in tandem.Its a low level out not for speakers.

Looking at the size of the outputs.... I got an idea...

Do you have an old PC power supply lying around?

I think the main Motherboard power plug would almost fit into that wiring harness... ?

If you want to use that amp either find a loom that'll plug into that which you can use the wiring on, or;

Take the cover off the amp, cut the wires running to that socket and solder on some extentions running them out of the amp in place of the plug bypassing the need for the loom all together. Not the normal way to use these things but it will work.


Edit: Short of either of those options just go get yourself another amplifier. What sub are you running? Model No.

Edit: Just looking at that amps spec's, its completely gutless for a sub anyway, 2x 35w rms @ 4ohm, 2x 50w rms @ 2ohm and 1x 80w RMS @ 4ohm, its not even going to be heard unless its a 6" sub or something your trying to power lol I'd buy a new and better amp!

Edit: Just looking at that amps spec's, its completely gutless for a sub anyway, 2x 35w rms @ 4ohm, 2x 50w rms @ 2ohm and 1x 80w RMS @ 4ohm, its not even going to be heard unless its a 6" sub or something your trying to power lol I'd buy a new and better amp!

Yeh, unless you sit the sub on your passenger seat, you're barely gonna hear it bud... :think:

use it at 2x 50w RMS and wear the subs as headphones?

use it at 2x 50w RMS and wear the subs as headphones?

:bowrofl:ahaha

use it at 2x 50w RMS and wear the subs as headphones?
Looks to be like he's only got 1 sub, so I'd run it at 80w and wear it as a hat :P

use it at 2x 50w RMS and wear the subs as headphones?


Looks to be like he's only got 1 sub, so I'd run it at 80w and wear it as a hat :P


Just install it bud and see what happens...

The worse thing is its not loud enough, so you upgrade when you can.

Once Wiring is done (properly), individual components are easily upgraded.

Just install it bud and see what happens...

The worse thing is its not loud enough, so you upgrade when you can.

Once Wiring is done (properly), individual components are easily upgraded.
The only reason I wouldn't bother fitting it is if its too much effort to get the speaker and remote connections wired up. Especially when for $100 or less you can get a brand name amp from JB on clearance that'll have at least double the power output, if not more for the sub.

Again thought what sub is it, it may not require much power.

use it at 2x 50w RMS and wear the subs as headphones?

hahahaha

alright how about this... will the little amp run my two 6x9s, whilst my 4x130wrms response amp runs 2 of my 6.5" splits and the sub? will that work?

if that won't work ill just go get a cheap amp :D any one got one handy?

just a little 10" pioneer, 140wrms i think, 400 peak

ill have to go to JB on monday :D

hahahaha

alright how about this... will the little amp run my two 6x9s, whilst my 4x130wrms response amp runs 2 of my 6.5" splits and the sub? will that work?

if that won't work ill just go get a cheap amp :D any one got one handy?

That will work most certainly, but be careful with how much power you give that sub if its only rated at 140, the response with the 2 rear channels bridged can put out close to 400w rms so be light with the gains :P

If it was me:

4x 100WRMS running fronts off ch 1 and 2 and sub bridged off ch 3 and 4. Rears run of headunit. Keep it nice and simple.

sweet! alright, ill give that a shot

oh and all my gains are at minimum on the amp - want to be careful!

Thats a good place to start with the gains. Make sure you have the approapriate filters on ( i.e HP for the fronts, LP for the sub ).

Turn the sub off or d/c the RCA's to the sub.
Turn the volume up on your headunit to 3/4 of max
Increase your gains until the fronts start distorting a little bit then turn it back a bit ( or stop when it is as loud as you want ).
Turn the sub back on or re-plug the RCA's in and repeat the same. This time though stop either when the sub starts distorting or the sub begins to blend into the fronts.

Thats a good place to start with the gains. Make sure you have the approapriate filters on ( i.e HP for the fronts, LP for the sub ).

Turn the sub off or d/c the RCA's to the sub.
Turn the volume up on your headunit to 3/4 of max
Increase your gains until the fronts start distorting a little bit then turn it back a bit ( or stop when it is as loud as you want ).
Turn the sub back on or re-plug the RCA's in and repeat the same. This time though stop either when the sub starts distorting or the sub begins to blend into the fronts.
whats the best way to set up the hertz for the LP of the speakers?
my amp has both so i should only need to use the one yeah?
sorry for hi-jack

If it was me:

4x 100WRMS running fronts off ch 1 and 2 and sub bridged off ch 3 and 4. Rears run of headunit. Keep it nice and simple.


Are you sure you would bridge 3 and 4 for the 4 sub? That would give out 380wrms.... he said his sub was like 140wrms
Its probably best to just hook the sub to one channel and underpower it slightly.......

Edit: just read that 400wrms in the MAX for the sub!! So I wouldnt be feeding it 380wrms if i were you!!!!

Are you sure you would bridge 3 and 4 for the 4 sub? That would give out 380wrms.... he said his sub was like 140wrms
Its probably best to just hook the sub to one channel and underpower it slightly.......

Edit: just read that 400wrms in the MAX!! So I wouldnt be feeding it 380wrms if i were you!!!!

So just one channel for the sub?

Are you sure you would bridge 3 and 4 for the 4 sub? That would give out 380wrms.... he said his sub was like 140wrms
Its probably best to just hook the sub to one channel and underpower it slightly.......

Edit: just read that 400wrms in the MAX!! So I wouldnt be feeding it 380wrms if i were you!!!!

Dont be soft. Lol at your edit, if it is 400Wrms max what wrong with 380Wrms lol ( but I know what you mean ).

It is called a gain control for a reason. Their many variants into just how much power the sub can handle... It will also be a lot safer for the sub to potentially run in bridge mode over the potential clipping city of a single channel as you will be running a single channel at or above its maximum potential and your will probably go over a safe THD.

If he just bridges it and get it over and done with, the trip to JB will be easy to upgrade.