Quickest Way to Tap a 12V line in my console?

**SwapMeet** · 11-16-2004, 12:16 AM

Monitor just came in and I'd like to see if I can install it myself. I'll be using the monitor along with a Kenwood headunit in a 2x single DIN setup. The monitor comes with 4 wires (+12V, GND, Reverse Switch, Parking Switch). Of course, I won't be using the Parking Switch.

Anyway, what's the quickest and easiest way to tap into the +12V source and GND? Monitor looks like it has a fuse box attached to the +12V wire. Do I need to attach another in-line fuse?

I have a 2000 Ford Mustang if that matters.

**falconey** · 11-16-2004, 08:47 AM

The kenwood should have an amp lead coming out of it that's +12v. You can use that.

**pip** · 11-16-2004, 12:31 PM

Check your documentation to see if hooking up to the cars '12v' is OK...the cars electrics actually run at about 13.8v. If the monitor needs regulated 12v then you'll need a 12v supply from ratshack or similar.

**jcdillin** · 11-16-2004, 12:33 PM

watch out some amp turn on leads can only handle 300MA coming from a HU

**SwapMeet** · 11-17-2004, 12:57 AM

Originally Posted by pip

Check your documentation to see if hooking up to the cars '12v' is OK...the cars electrics actually run at about 13.8v. If the monitor needs regulated 12v then you'll need a 12v supply from ratshack or similar.

The monitor is car-friendly. It says it can handle 12V-14.4VDC.

**SwapMeet** · 11-17-2004, 01:01 AM

Originally Posted by falconey

The kenwood should have an amp lead coming out of it that's +12v. You can use that.

What do I do about the ground (GND)?

**djmickyg** · 11-17-2004, 01:18 AM

dont use the 12v amp line coming out of your cdplayer!
as cjdillin said thats only designed to switch on a realy to power the amp.. and not much more than that..

u can split the power wire going to the cd player for the power. and the same with the ground..

its best to ground alot of things to the same place, to avoid ground loops.

**SWC** · 11-17-2004, 01:20 AM

Originally Posted by SwapMeet

What do I do about the ground (GND)?

You can just attach it to the body of the car. I just use bolts ont he body when I need to do a ground.

**SwapMeet** · 11-17-2004, 01:41 AM

Originally Posted by djmickyg

dont use the 12v amp line coming out of your cdplayer!
as cjdillin said thats only designed to switch on a realy to power the amp.. and not much more than that..

u can split the power wire going to the cd player for the power. and the same with the ground..

its best to ground alot of things to the same place, to avoid ground loops.

Hmm... remembering basic physics.... splitting wire = parallel circuit = same voltage across the parallel circuits. Current will change though, depending on resistance. So I guess that splitting the power wire won't harm either my monitor or my head unit? What's the best way to split the cable? Solder it or use a cap connector?

**SwapMeet** · 11-18-2004, 05:01 AM

Originally Posted by djmickyg

dont use the 12v amp line coming out of your cdplayer!
as cjdillin said thats only designed to switch on a realy to power the amp.. and not much more than that..

u can split the power wire going to the cd player for the power. and the same with the ground..

its best to ground alot of things to the same place, to avoid ground loops.

Good suggestion about the ground loops. I'll probably use two distributor blocks down the line, one for outputting power to my Opus/Inverter/Amp, and another one to collect grounds from the Opus/Inverter/Amp.