Umm... how do I power my amps?

**SC3005SPD1** · 07-19-2006, 12:17 PM

I went to a car audio store to get my amps installed and I told the guy that I will be using a carputer instead of the factory hu. Then he asked me how will it power on. That was a good question. How do I power the amps? Im using a laptop and a external sound card.

**bay350z** · 07-19-2006, 12:21 PM

I think he means how are you gonna turn on the amps. I use my DC-DC power supply to send the remote turn on.

**Jahntassa** · 07-19-2006, 12:38 PM

I just took a wire off the ACC wire behind the radio, ran it through a switch so I could turn the amps off when I don't want them. That way they'll turn on with the key in ACC, or you can keep them off.

**bay350z** · 07-19-2006, 12:43 PM

If you use the ACC line, then you might get that thump when the computer boots. The DC-DC has delay to avoid that. It works well for me.

**ergman** · 07-19-2006, 12:58 PM

Depending on how he wires his laptop he may not be using a DC-DC PSU. psptibby is right. You will most likely get a thump through out all the speakers connected to the amp when the PC boots. So I would also suggest using the DC-DC PSU with the 20 second delay. If you aren't going that route then use the 12V wire on the ACC side of the key.

**3onDubs** · 07-19-2006, 01:03 PM

Two options...

1. Find a switched power source in your car that turns on and off when you turn the key. This is also known as an ignition wire. With this setup, you will need a delayer installed so that you don't get that pop sound when your computer boots up. You can get a pop stopper from david navone's website.

2. Use the amp turn on wire off of your power supply. Almost all power supplies have this wire comming out of it. They are usually set to a small delay that will prevent turn on pops.

**SC3005SPD1** · 07-19-2006, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by Jahntassa

I just took a wire off the ACC wire behind the radio, ran it through a switch so I could turn the amps off when I don't want them. That way they'll turn on with the key in ACC, or you can keep them off.

That could work, but the guys thats gonna install my liliput said they will use that ignition acc power for the screen. So i guess i will have to look into the dc-dc option.

**bay350z** · 07-19-2006, 01:52 PM

You could slipt the acc line.

**SC3005SPD1** · 07-19-2006, 01:55 PM

Basically I will be running the 2 amps and the liliput. I was told by a guy at compusa that has a carputer to get a .5 farad cap, an inverter, and a surge protector and run everything off there. Then a 1.5 farad for my amps.

**bay350z** · 07-19-2006, 01:58 PM

Well i doubt the guy has as much experiance with carpc's as guys on here.. I would get a DC-DC ps. You get a lot more features and dont have to mess with a inverter and all that.