Amplifier

[Guinness]

Thinking about getting an amplifier to run the speakers in the car. Wondering what the best way to do this is, dont think I will have a problem wiring the actual ground and power, but wiring the speakers up might be a problem. I am a total nub when it comes to this so any help much appreciated.

THe maing things I need to know are how to wire the amp in, what amp to get, what channel amplifier I need (2,4 etc).

O I am runing standerd tweaters and 4 sony 160w(peak) speakers

 

[Guinness]

o and if anyone has a decent one for sale that would work for me even better.

 

[Ric 2001]

I'm running 4 speaker of a 2 channel amp. Now there is a bit of math required.

http://www.alphacaraudio.co.uk/View...e P3002 - 300W x 1 @ 4 Ohms RMS mono&Search=Y

That's the amp. Now if I run 1 speaker off the left channel, and that speaker is 4 ohms then the amp will out put 100watts on that left channel. But if I put 2 speakers on the left channel and run them in parallel this will give a 2ohm independance: Total ohms = 1st speaker ohms x 2nd speaker ohms / 1st speaker ohms + 2nd speaker ohms. total = (4x4)/(4+4) = 16/8 = 2ohms
Therefore the amp will now be 2 ohms stable and produce 150 instead of 100watts.

This site has a good picture for the differance between parellel wiring and serial. http://www.bcae1.com/srsparll.htm

A concern regarding speaker impedance involves mixing speakers with different impedance ratings. Avoid doing this, because drivers with different impedances will "see" different amounts of power

And last but not least, pay attention to polarity while you're wiring up your masterpiece. Make sure each driver is correctly wired – positive amp terminal to positive speaker terminal, and so on – or cancellation problems will conspire to drive you nuts.

Just remember even the most complex wiring schemes can be reduced to a simple sketch

 

[Guinness]

chears mate thats very helpfull

 

[bellamy06]

a good website to look at prices and models.... www.caraudiosecurity.com.
if youre only running two speakers then buy a 2 channel amp, if youre going all out and going 4 speakers then buy a 4 channel amp.
wiring is simple really,
do your power supply and your earth, then run the RCA's from your headunit to the amp.
now wire your speaker wire from the terminals on the amp to your speakers.
i did mine a while ago now (about a year) its so much easier when you have it all in front of you, its so simple

cheers. tom

 

[Guinness]

ah right so I would have to rewire the speakers, ie so they arnt wired into the headunit. New wires etc?

I always figured I would intercept the speakers at the headunit or something.

 

[bellamy06]

standard seaker wire is straight to the factory headunit with doorbell wire as speaker wire!!!
if youre doing a proper job of it buy an aftermaket headunit, an amp, some high quality RCA's and some decent speaker wire.
i put my amp under my seat so it was close to the front! didnt need long RCA's or much speaker wire that way.

tom

 

[Guinness]

I have changed the headunit and changed the speakers with component sony speakers just joining the original wiring in. Anwyay am sure it will be clear or I may even pay someone to do it lol get my moneys worth though..

 

[Ric 2001]

All it's a complete myth that you have to have the same amount of channels to the same amount of speakers. I've seen 10 speakers on a 2 channel amp. Just as long as you don't drop the ohms below the recommended ohms ie if you drop the ohms to 1 then hope you like pyrotechnics. Just all about wiring and ohms of the speakers!!!

 

[bellamy06]

makes a hell of a lot easier job if you do buy a 4 channel for 4 speakers though

 

[Ric 2001]

makes a hell of a lot easier job if you do buy a 4 channel for 4 speakers though

Eaisier than what twisting two wires together to form 1? I'd rather get the most of the one amp personally.

Also cheaper too.http://www.alphacaraudio.co.uk/View...@+4+Ohms+Bridged+RMS&CAT_CODE=&SUBCAT_CODE=85 £200 for 50watts per channel. or http://www.alphacaraudio.co.uk/View...e P3002 - 300W x 1 @ 4 Ohms RMS mono&Search=Y £150 for 150watts per channel.

 

[RichieRich]

or buy my 4 channel for £30 ish quid... 800 watt max ill tell you the rms if u want?