Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 22:12:31 +0400 From: "Matthew Faulks" <m.faulksnopsamin.net> Subject: Re: OK to draw power from rear running lights?
I've decided what I'm going to do now, and its the same as the advice I have gotten from you all, use the rear runnging lights as a trigger, on a relay and run a cable from the battery to the amp, does anyone know a good size cable to use, will the very heavy duty speaker kind do (about 4mm thick wire, 75 strand I think) or do I need proper electrical stuff. Thanks for all your help. Matt Andre Brousseau <Answer50nopsamail.com> wrote in message news:37B828D2.2B07EC35nopsamail.com... > That is exactely what I was meaning, the best way, I think If you really > want to trigger it with the rear running lights is to run a big wire > directly from the battery and use a relay to trigger it with the rear > running lights, but as Johannes Hyvärinen said, it's important to put a > fuse on the big power cable going to your amp to avoid bigger problems! > > Andre Brousseau > 88 900 8-valve > > > "Johannes Hyvärinen" wrote: > > > I think this needs a little clarification.. There *must* be a fuse in > > every wire taken from the battery, not having one may result in a fire > > if a short circuit occurs. What Andre probably means above is that the > > original fuse and wires for the rear lights are not big enough to > > handle the additional current an amplifier takes. (At least about 10 > > Amperes when you turn the volume high [P=U*I, 120W=12V*10A]. Check the > > amplifier's manual if you have one.) > > > > Take the time to run a big enough power cable for the amp. Use thicker > > cable than you actually need, to avoid running a new wire if you want > > to upgrade the amp. It's not very expensive. If the cable is too thin > > the voltage for the amp will drop and you won't get all the watts out > > of it. Install a 16 Ampere fuse in the cable as close to the battery as > > practical, for example on top of the fender. The easiest way to run the > > cable is under the floor mat on the right side of the car between the > > seats and doors. (assuming that your car is anything like my '81 99GL > > :) > > > > -- > > Johannes Hyvärinen johannes.hyvarinennopsamfi >