Amp Installation Questions???

[JAZ 5.0]

I'm wanting to install a 4-channel amp on my 92 vert. I understand the 12v source, ground, and power-on lead. I know the RCA inputs need to be plugged in too for front and rear signal. But what signal is it getting?

Also, connecting the speakers to the amp is what my main question is about: Can I just run wire to the back of the head unit and connect the amp to the speakers just by splicing into the wiring harness behind the head unit? Or do I have to run wire directly to each speaker?

Sorry if these questions are dumb, but I have a limited knowlege of car audio.

 

[92Patrol5.0]

The RCA inputs will run from the back of your stereo unit(assuming you have an aftermarket unit with RCA preouts) and plug into your amp. Basically this sends the music from your stereo, into your amp, then out to your speakers. You will then run speaker wires from your amp to your speakers. There is a + and - wire for each of the 4 speakers. So lets say your amp is in your trunk. You have all the power wires and RCA cables connected, and you're ready to hook up your speakers. You'll need to run speaker wire from the amp to your speakers. Suppose you have 2 6x9's in the rear that you want to hook up. You'll hook up a + and - at the amp for the left speaker, and the same for the right speaker. You'll then run the speaker wire to the speakers(Left speaker - and + and the other to the right speaker). Hope this makes sense. Basically the RCA cables supply the music into the amp, then you run the speaker wire out of the amp and to your speakers to put the music through the speakers. You don't have to splice into the wiring harness or anything when u use the RCA cable. I hope this makes sense. I know what I'm doing myself, but I find it hard to put into words for other people so they can understand it. Maybe someone else can chime in and make more sense.

 

[JAZ 5.0]

No, everything you're telling me makes sense. I just wanted to know what the RCA inputs actually did. I didn't know. I do have an aftermarket headunit, but my question really was, do I have to run wire to each and every speaker from the amp, or can I just splice in the speaker wire from the amp, to the harness going into the headunit that connects all the speakers to the headunit? You know, the harness that is color coded with the purple and purple with black stripe(positive and negative) and so on for the rest of the speakers. Can I just go from the amp to those wires?

 

[strokedandblown]

its not a good idea to go through the harness, i would splice directly into the specific wire and you'll be ok

 

[92Patrol5.0]

What speakers are u hooking up? just your rears and your doors? If your amp is in the trunk it would be easier just to run wire from the amp to those speakers. The door speakers are pretty easy too if I remember right.

 

[JAZ 5.0]

Ya, I'm going to hook up the rears and the doors. I know if I leave it in the trunk, i'll be easy to go to the rears. But i was thinking about putting it under the passenger seat, but not sure yet. I guess the doors are my biggest concern. i've been told not to run the RCA wires next to the speaker wires to prevent engine noise. it would seem easier to accomplish this is i mount under the seat.

 

[92Patrol5.0]

It's basically personal preference. I think the way I ran wires to the door speakers was...... I took a piece of wire(like a clothes hanger or something) and worked it through the rubber boot that the wires run through between the car body and the door. When u open the door, there's that rubber boot that houses the wires. I ran a piece of wire through there, attached the end of my speaker wire to that, then pulled the hanger wire back through. Worked pretty easily for me. Just an idea.