--"Help Wiring my subs?"--, Help needed! Options

[CanadaCelica]

Hi everyone, I know this gets posted allot so I will be straight forward and give you all my information and what I require.

I just purchased today a nice pair of subs, or so I think...lol,
Well this is what I got:

2 10" Infinity 1030w subs 250w RMS and 1000 MAX
1 MTX MXA6001 class D mono amp to power them 300RMS @ 4Ohms, 600RMS @ 2Ohms
There in a sealed box by the way

This is what I would like to know:
1) What gauge wire should I use to hook from the subs to the amp?
2) What gauge wire I should use for the remote turn on?
3) Where is a good place to ground the amp?
4) What would be a good RCA cable to use? Should it have features like twisted or super shielded...lol...I duno just giving examples to help better answer my question.
5) Since the subs are only 250RMS would it be better for me to wire them in 4Ohm, or 2Ohm based on what the amp provides.
6) What style fuse should I use, AGU or ANL? And what AMP rating?
7) Last if anyone can give me some ideas on how I should run my wiring across the celi, through the center console, or side panels? Id be happy

If anyone could help me with these many but hopefully simple to answer questions that would be awesome. I am a newbie at this but I enjoy a challenge.

[runriot95]

Hi everyone, I know this gets posted allot so I will be straight forward and give you all my information and what I require.

I just purchased today a nice pair of subs, or so I think...lol,
Well this is what I got:

2 10" Infinity 1030w subs 250w RMS and 1000 MAX
1 MTX MXA6001 class D mono amp to power them 300RMS @ 4Ohms, 600RMS @ 2Ohms
There in a sealed box by the way

This is what I would like to know:
1) What gauge wire should I use to hook from the subs to the amp?
2) What gauge wire I should use for the remote turn on?
3) Where is a good place to ground the amp?
4) What would be a good RCA cable to use? Should it have features like twisted or super shielded...lol...I duno just giving examples to help better answer my question.
5) Since the subs are only 250RMS would it be better for me to wire them in 4Ohm, or 2Ohm based on what the amp provides.
6) What style fuse should I use, AGU or ANL? And what AMP rating?
7) Last if anyone can give me some ideas on how I should run my wiring across the celi, through the center console, or side panels? Id be happy 

If anyone could help me with these many but hopefully simple to answer questions that would be awesome. I am a newbie at this but I enjoy a challenge.
[right][snapback]302668[/snapback][/right]

I'm not an expert but I'll answer the best I can.
1) 18-16 guage should be fine
2) whatever you have will do - this just needs to send a small bit of current to switch on the amp
3) ground the amp as short of distance as possible -preferably to an existing bolt
4) never really experimented with RCA cables to see if the expensive ones are worth the $. The shielding does help eliminate interference but again, I've never ran a test to see if they are necessary. Would recommend mid-priced cables to play it safe.
5) This is tough to answer without knowing more about the subs. Are both in the same box or 2 separate boxes? What ohms are the subs? There are many ways to wire the subs but I would definitely recommend wiring them so that you see a 4 ohm load and get 300RMS.
6) I don't think it matters what style of fuse you use as long as you have the proper fuse holder for it. The fuse rating will be the same as the fuse rating on the amp, e.g if the amp comes with a 60 amp fuse, then use a 60 amp fuse on your power wire.
7) More info is needed to answer this. Where are you putting your amp? If you're putting it under the driver's seat, then you can run the power cable under the driver's door sill and up through the firewall. You can then run the RCAs from the stereo under the console and under your seat. If you DO decide to put the amp under your seat make sure that you have clearance for the seat to slide back and forth without hitting the amp.

Any more questions, just ask.

Oh, by the way, Crutchfield has a nice little video on how to install an amp. There's a detailed how-to process also listed. Check it out at http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/learning...html?format=wmv

[CanadaCelica]

WOW! That’s some great detailed info for me thanx, I am grateful so far.
As for more information to the subs and the location,

Subs:
Are 4Omh Impendence, and they are both in the same sealed box, in the trunk.

Amp:
I plan on mounting it in the trunk since i feel it can have the best ventilation there, unless some one can recommend a better spot?

Also that video gave me allot of help for planning where to run the wire, Thanx

[runriot95]

WOW! That’s some great detailed info for me thanx, I am grateful so far.
As for more information to the subs and the location,

Subs:
Are 4Omh Impendence, and they are both in the same sealed box, in the trunk.

Amp:
I plan on mounting it in the trunk since i feel it can have the best ventilation there, unless some one can recommend a better spot?

Also that video gave me allot of help for planning where to run the wire, Thanx 
[right][snapback]302686[/snapback][/right]

Since the subs are rated at 250watts rms @ 4 ohm and the amp puts out 300watts rms @ 4 ohm, I'd say just wire it like you would a normal speaker.

As far as mounting the amp in the trunk - you're right, it is the best place for ventilation. However, I have a 100w x 4 ch amp under my seat with not much clearance and I haven't had it shut down yet, so I wouldn't place TOO much importance on ventilation. The reason I chose under the seat was for stealth purposes. I wanted to have a nice, loud system but didn't want to take away from the interior appearance or space. Do what you think is best for you - maybe try it under the seat and see if you have any problems.

One final installation tip: Use heavy duty velcro to mount your amp. If you're mounting the amp to the floor, rather than drill holes into the car, staple one side of the velcro to the carpet and stick the other on the bottom of the amp. It works fantastic but make sure you get the heavy duty stuff.

[BLINKYxMUNKEY]

one thing i found easy was to buy the amp wiring kit at walmart, and also get 14 gauge wire for the subs. it cost total like 30 bucks and had everything i need. a good ground for me was a my seat belt were it bolted down.

This post has been edited by BLINKYxMUNKEY: Jun 21, 2005 - 10:16 PM

[Scarrell]

well we need to know if they subs are dual 2 or 4 ohm or single voice coil.... then we can tell you how to wire em..... also if you want to get a good ground, make sure its to the chassis(not a damn tire jack or somethin) and sand down the paint, also the bolts holding your seats arent a bad spot.. also the amp kit you buy will come with the a fuse and all that jazz you are mentioning.... you can go to Wal Mart and buy an 8gauge standard amp kit($22 or so after tax) that will have everything you need, but this is low grade stuff, but will suite your needs fine.. but if i were you and if you dont mind a little waiting.... id hit up Knu Koncepts 8gauge kit for $19 http://www.knukonceptz.com/productDetail.cfm?prodID=KOLAK8
(the Knu Konceptz kit also comes with speaker wire as you can see, but if you go to Wal Mart pick up that 14gauge wire, its wrapped in a spool and gold.. works fine too and is cheap))

i had this kit, its a very nice kit.. nicely packaged too(well mine was) but i sold it to a friend and installed it in his ride.. but anyway its a good kit... but as i said the Wal Mart ones will suit you fine also.. its all up to you... also where you want to run the wires is up to you.. but i and im sure many many others ran ours along the side.. its easier but may require a little work to get the black piece that runs along the side to stay down(my ****s all broke, so i lifted it up and some other piece holding the carpet and shoved it under the carpet).

[CanadaCelica]

Hmm..I have defiantly thought about buying a wiring kit, but the only thing that really stopped me from doing that was that I thought I should use 4 gauge wire for the power and ground, and buying a decent kit like that in Canada from what I saw ran about $100. So I was thinking of buying the stuff in bulk or off a big spool from a surplus store or something.

Also the subs are only 4 ohm SVC

But if the Wal-Mart kit will work for me then great, I am goin to pick myself up one of those. So I just also want to make sure that if I do get it, that an 8 gauge wire will work, and I won’t need to worry about some electrical fire that could happen and incinerate the celica…lol

[Scarrell]

ooooooooooooook.... yeah them kits at Wal Mart will do fine....... anyway..... your subs can be wired at a 2ohm load or 8ohm load... obviously you want a 2ohm load... them subs should take 300rms a piece fine.... but if you want to be extra careful... watch the gains on the amp, and the bass settings on your HU... remember the gains are volume knobs.. theres a thin line between distortion and clean signal...... ummmm here let me find you a wire diagram to show you how to wire the subs if you arent sure...

http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/rftech/wiri...x=14&image.y=17

that should help you... if you got any ?'s let us know!

also post some pics!!!

[CanadaCelica]

Great!!!....but now there is one thing that has confused me from your reply...lol...umm you suggest that I wire them in parallel to get the 2ohm load, which will put out 600 watts from the amp I have RMS. Since the subs take 250 RMS would it not make more sense to just directly connect each sub to the 4 terminals on the amp and give them a 4ohm load with 300 RMS. (there are 4 wire terminals on my Class D mono block amp, a right + and - and a left + and -)

(My words may not be so clear here...or confusing...lol)

Or does the wattage from the amp split as it goes to each sub... by which i mean if hooked up in 2ohm 600RMS each sub receives 300RMS, and if hooked up in 4ohm 300RMS each sub receives 150RMS. But I don’t think that’s how that works...

So if you could direct me here that'd be great...sorry if I confuted you at all...I have some minor knowledge...but not allot...as you can tell...lol

Also i just checked out the Wal-Mart kit online...do you think that that RCA cable will work good for me...I don’t want one that will pick up distortion. Also it comes with a 100 amp fuse is that too much for my 60 amp rated Amp???

[Scarrell]

no..... they will be fine wired at 2ohms...... you cant wire the subs at 4ohms guy... it wont happen... lol.... look at the polarity.... they can only see a 4ohm or 8ohm load or higher if you wire them wrong... they will be fine getting the 300rms a piece.. just dont turn the gains up too much or the bass on the cd player.. personally to me its better to over power a sub than under power a sub.... if people under power a sub they tend to turn the gains up more.. if you over power a sub you can have the gains down a bit and not have everything up more just to get some "good" bass...

also that Wal Mart kit will be fine... if you encounter some "alt whine" look at the other threads about it to get your answers.... that 100 amp fuse is for the power wire..so your $hit doesnt blow if something happens to your electrical... you will be alright.

[CanadaCelica]

Alright Great...and thats all Q's answered. Except for this last one...lol...sorry. I’m sure u gota be getin somewhat angry now.

Quick and simple...iv heard of a break in period for subs...You’re supposed to have only like 1/2 the power going to the subs, and do that for the first 15 hrs. So in my case how would I do that? just not turn the volume up loud, and have all gains way down?

[Scarrell]

nah im not mad, ask as many questions as you want..... the break in period is sort of a myth..... some do it, some dont.... its up to you.. i am a little Iffy on the myth.... some say to wait 8 hours at medium or less volume... but i usually do an hour if that a medium or less volume... also... to set your gains.. an easy way to do it...... set Everything to flat... -0 etc... turn it up at a good moderate level and set it from there...turn the gains up til it distorts and turn it down slowly to get a good even level.... then turn the subs off and do this with your speakers... esentially you want a Oscilliscope and an RTA and some other tools to Correctly set your gains, but to get your hands on that you need some major cash or a Really good hook up... but the other way is fine.... just listen by ear..

[md6gst]

I used to work for Tweeter Car Audio and what Scarrell said is completley true. Its better to overpower a sub a little than to underpower it. I ahve had a JL 500/1 500watts RMS going to a single sub rated at 250 RMS and it was great and I didnt experience any bad effects with the sub.

[CanadaCelica]

Well iv got them all wired and runnin...about 3 days ago...haven’t had time to post since all I do is work to pay the bills.

Thanks Scarrell & Runriot95 for all the help and patience answering my many questions.
I would show some pictures, but I kind of don’t know how???...If someone would like to let me know how, that'd be great!

They sound awesome, and I absolutely love cruisin now more then ever with the Incubus cranked…lol

Thanx again.

[Scarrell]

if you have a messenger program like AIM, MSN, or Yahoo you can send them to me and i can put them on a server for you. or email me them at

jared_s_c AT hotmail.com

This post has been edited by Scarrell: Jun 28, 2005 - 11:52 PM