000AMPIG
5
Amplifier Mounting and Connections
7.
After routing the power and signal cables to your amplifier, using the techniques
described on page 3, you’re ready to mount and hook up the amplifier. First, remove a
bolt near the planned amp location. Crimp a ring terminal (included with the kit) to the
short piece of black ground cable (also in the kit). Scrape away any paint and clean the
bolt location thoroughly (improper grounding is the #1 cause of noise problems), and
then bolt the terminal tightly to the vehicle’s metal chassis. If you can’t find a
convenient ground screw or bolt, drill a hole for one — be careful not to drill into the
gas tank or a gas or brake line.
8.
Mark off the amp’s location on the floor or seat back (or your chosen location), also
noting the location of the power connections, speaker outputs, and preamp inputs.
Make slits in seat back fabric (or carpet, if the amp is to be mounted on the vehicle’s
floor), and run the power, speaker, and RCA wiring under the material to the appropriate
slits. Here’s where a wiring snake (available at hardware or auto parts stores) comes
in handy. Insert the snake through the slit, grab the wiring with the snake’s grips, and
pull it through.
9.
Install grommets and terminals (included in wiring kit) at the ends of the power,
ground, and turn on leads, and connect them to the amplifier. Connect speaker wire
and RCA patch cables to the amp. Reconnect your car’s negative battery cable, turn
on the radio, and the amp should power up. Start your car, rev the engine, and listen
for any engine whine coming through the speakers. If there are no noise problems,
re-install the radio and mount the amplifier using self-tapping screws.
10.
Connect speaker wires to your speakers (or subwoofer box). Then, to maximize clean
signal strength from your amp, you'll need to adjust the gain or input sensitivity
settings. Here’s how:
•
Set the input sensitivity controls of your amplifier to their minimum level (counter
clockwise).
•
Put in a CD and turn up the receiver’s volume (you might have to raise the amp’s
gain just a bit to hear the music).
•
When you hear distortion, stop. Turn the volume down just until the distortion
disappears. This maximizes the signal-to-noise ratio, and leaves your system less
prone to engine noise problems. Keep the volume setting here.
•
Now turn the gain controls on the amplifier up until it reaches the loudest volume at
which you'll play it. If you hear distortion, slightly decrease the gain settings.
Now you’ve optimized the amp’s output with the receiver’s volume set near maximum.
You can turn the volume almost all the way up and not damage your speakers or amplify
distortion. If you’re hooking up a subwoofer, a test disc (or bass-heavy CD) is helpful for
making final adjustments.
Bolt the ground terminal tightly to the vehicle’s metal chassis.
A wiring snake can come in handy for
pulling wires to the amp mounting location.
RCA cables routed through slits in the
vehicle’s carpet, and connected to the
amplifier’s signal inputs.
Always be careful when drilling or cutting in a vehicle.
Be aware of things such as wiring, windows, fuel lines
and safety devices. Check drilling/cutting depth and loca-
tion to avoid damage to vehicle appearance.
CAUTION:
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