Help with in-car amp mounting & speaker wiring

Lyle44

Lyle44

Lyle44

Associate
Joined
18 Sep 2007
Posts
577
Location
Norwich
Just a quick couple of questions:

1. What are people suggestions for mounting/securing amplifier in the boot?

2. I'm replacing the stock wiring in the car with the stuff that came with the speakers, but does it matter whether I run this alongside the positive power cable from the battery? (Know the rca's should be on opposite side)

Thanks
 
I made a false floor out of MDF and automotive carpet to screw my sub enclosure and amp to. Makes it easy to take it all out as well if you need to get to the spare wheel :).
 
Don't screw the amp to your seats, I have no idea why people do this. It'll look nasty when you take it off to sel lthe car. I made a simple floor out of MDF, easy to do really and much much neater.

As for the cabling. Route away from any power cables where you can otherwise you risk savage interfearance. The speaker cable is less shielded than the RCAs so if they say it about the RCAs, i'd route the speaker cable likewise. It's gonna be a heache to avoid all power cabling, but do your best to avoid and it shouls be fine.
 
Didn't think screwing to the seats was the best idea.

This will be the stupid question of the day, but how do you go about making a false floor?
 
Make a cardboard template that'll fit in then cut it in MDF.

Make sure the cardboard can slide in without bending or twisting as 12mm MDF isn't very flexible.
 
Last edited:
When I installed an Amp/Sub kit in my mate’s car I initially thought about screwing it to the seat, but after a proper look I came up with a solution I'm still quite proud of :D

Under the boot carpet was his spare wheel, and there SHOULD have been a tool kit stored in the centre of the wheel. Some previous owner had clearly misplaced it. I decided it would be a great place to hide the amp instead. I cut an MDF circle [Just slightly bigger than the wheel] and bolted the amp to the underside of it, and dropped it on top of the wheel [I would like to show you a picture, but I'm nowhere near the car] Now when you remove the carpet in the boot, you find a sheet of mdf, with the amp bolted to the underside, beneath which is the spare wheel. It fits perfectly and doesn’t take up any boot space.

This is quite similar to Amoeba's idea, but somewhat less effort

I was also recommend velcroing the Sub to the carpet to stop it sliding around.

As regards to the wiring IDEALLY the power cable should go down the other side of the car to all the speaker cables to reduce interference, but unless you've got a really high end system it won't make too much difference

Hope this helps
P.S. what a random first post to an OC forum :p
 
griffo_001 said:
When I installed an Amp/Sub kit in my mate’s car I initially thought about screwing it to the seat, but after a proper look I came up with a solution I'm still quite proud of :D

Under the boot carpet was his spare wheel, and there SHOULD have been a tool kit stored in the centre of the wheel. Some previous owner had clearly misplaced it. I decided it would be a great place to hide the amp instead. I cut an MDF circle [Just slightly bigger than the wheel] and bolted the amp to the underside of it, and dropped it on top of the wheel [I would like to show you a picture, but I'm nowhere near the car] Now when you remove the carpet in the boot, you find a sheet of mdf, with the amp bolted to the underside, beneath which is the spare wheel. It fits perfectly and doesn’t take up any boot space.

This is quite similar to Amoeba's idea, but somewhat less effort

I was also recommend velcroing the Sub to the carpet to stop it sliding around.

As regards to the wiring IDEALLY the power cable should go down the other side of the car to all the speaker cables to reduce interference, but unless you've got a really high end system it won't make too much difference

Hope this helps
P.S. what a random first post to an OC forum :p
Click to expand...

Hi, welcome to the forum :)
Did you not find that mounted this way the amp got too hot, I mean it's upside down so the cooling fins won't be working properly and it was in a small unventilated space?
 
chipperhead said:
Hi, welcome to the forum :)
Did you not find that mounted this way the amp got too hot, I mean it's upside down so the cooling fins won't be working properly and it was in a small unventilated space?
Click to expand...

Nah its worked flawlessly thus far.... but its not a particularly powerful one, so its probably not kicking out too much heat....

Its certainly worth a try imo
 
My amp (Audison SRx-3) gets mega hot haha. I think it would melt if it didn't have an open space to sit in.

With regard to the power cable - have you considered running it under the car? I run mine along the brake lines and then up through a hole in the boot.
 
Amoeba said:
My amp (Audison SRx-3) gets mega hot haha. I think it would melt if it didn't have an open space to sit in.

With regard to the power cable - have you considered running it under the car? I run mine along the brake lines and then up through a hole in the boot.
Click to expand...

I've seen that done in a Clio before, becuase there was no sensible way to get the cable inside - It works quite well, just have plenty of cable ties at the ready
 
In my Mazda 3, I did used to use the fake floor tool tray, but after blowing a amp from it over heating in there, My Current 950watt Vibe, gets sooo hot, its currently just sat infront of my sub as it gets too hot to put anywhere else currently.

So becarefull check how hot it gets wiht the music cranked up for a while and then decide, it its cool running hide it, if not make sure it has good airflow.
 
I screwed my amp to the back of my sub so it's all neat and tidy in the boot, but that doesn't really help if you don't have a sub ;)
 
Haha it's already 12"! I wouldn't be able to fit a larger sub in my boot unless I fitted it flat rather than upright :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom