FAQ: How to Wire an OPUS PSU

**Quattro** · 06-28-2005, 06:51 PM

Guide to connecting your OPUS to your car

This is a pretty simple process, but the same question gets asked on a weekly bases. So I decided to do this simple tutorial to help people out.

Here is the Wire Coloring Scheme used on the different Opus Power Supply. The following instructions apply to all the power supply.

Option 1

Opus is connected directly to car battery.
Only Opus is used in the car.

There are 3 connections on the Opus – Power (+), Ground (-), & IGN.
You can use 10 gauge wire for the connections; I believe Opus recommends 12 awg. Most people use 10 to be safe, especially when running longer lengths to the trunk.

Here is a link to Opus’s wiring diagram for the Opus 150w
http://www.opussolutions.com/images/...ation_Dgrm.jpg

Well here goes.

1) Run the power wire from the battery to the Opus power connector; do not connect either side yet.
2) Run the IGN wire to the Opus as well. For this you can either tap into a fuse for the ignition switch of the car.
3) Add a fuse holder, with the fuse removed, to the power wire, connecting to the positive battery terminal, as close to the car battery as possible, preferably within 12”
4) Connect the ground wire to the Opus. There are two possibilities to connecting the wire to a ground area. You can either run another wire from the batteries negative terminal to the Opus or you can run a negative wire from the Opus and connect it to one of the car’s bolt close to the power supply. Make sure you sand the paint off completely where you will be connecting the ground; you want the ground connection to be in contact with bare metal.
5) Connect the ING wire to the Opus
6) Connect the Power wire to the Opus
7) Connect the Power wire to the car battery
8) Turn the car key.
9) Add the fuse to the fuse holder. You should use a fuse that is 15 – 20A, you don’t want to go higher then 20A. This is if you’re using a 150w Opus.
10) Enjoy your setup.

Option 2

Your car has 1 or more amps and an Opus.

For this option you should purchase an amp wiring kit, along with a Power distribution block (with fuses) and a Ground distribution block, it will make things a little easier. This process is very similar to the first option with some differences.

1) Run your power wire from the car battery to the rear where the amp and Opus is located; do not connect to the battery. This power wire will have to be a bigger gauge then in the first option, the size of the wire will depend on the number of amps you use, the power requirements of the amps and the length of wire you will be running. In most cases you should be fine with 2 or 4 gauge wires.
2) Run the IGN wire to the Opus as well. For this you can either tap into a fuse for the ignition switch of the car.
3) Add a fuse holder, with the fuse removed, to the power wire as close to the car battery as possible, preferably within 12”
4) Connect the power wire to the distribution block. From the distribution block connect a 12 awg wire to the Opus. Connect the amp(s) to the distribution block with the recommended size wire by the manufacturer.
5) Connect the ING wire to the Opus
6) Connect the ground wire from the Opus and amp(s) to the ground distribution block.
7) Connect the Ground wire from the distro block to the cars metal frame. Once again make sure you sand the paint off completely where you will be connecting the ground; you want the ground connection to be in contact with bare metal.
8) Connect the Power wire to the car battery
9) Turn the car key.
10) Add the fuse to the fuse holder close to the battery.
11) Add a fuse to the power distro block, one by one to each item connected to it.
12) Enjoy your setup.

Addition made by jollyeskimo

Originally Posted by jollyeskimo

note: This is meant as an addendum to Bugbyte's Powering your Car PC when it's not in the car post.

Basically this is how I connect a spare desktop power supply to my opus for testing standby/hibernation/startup while not hooked up to the car.

Just make sure the power supply is up to the job, and that the power supply is turned on (green/PS_ON lead on ATX connector (pin 14) shorted to any black/ground).

Close the switch to simulate an "ignition on" in the car, and open the switch to simulate an "ignition off" in the car, which will start the delayed shutdown/hibernate/standby.

I don't know the pinout of the power input connector on other opus psu's, so you might have to rewire appropriately for your model.

also, for OPUS ITX MINI case owners, make sure to screw in the top cover before powering on the system. The power supply is grounded to the top cover, and unless the cover is screwed in an connected to the other piece (that the motherboard is grounded to), it can be a cause for problems like not POSTing and giving you a Bad Power Supply beep code.

It’s that simple.

If there are any mistakes or errors, please let me know and I will correct them.

**Bugbyte** · 06-28-2005, 08:32 PM

Excellent FAQ! Thanks, Quattro.

**tj!2k4** · 06-28-2005, 08:35 PM

On the Opus 150, the INGITION line is YELLOW.

because otherwise there are thosw, who will say "I don't see a grey wire, but there is a yellow one - does that mean i don't have the ignition wire, and what does the grey one do?"

**PDiddy** · 06-28-2005, 09:03 PM

Wow thanks. Hey TJ this is a great explanation for me.

**Quattro** · 06-28-2005, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by tj!2k4

On the Opus, the INGITION line is YELLOW.

because otherwise there are thosw, who will say "I don't see a grey wire, but there is a yellow one - does that mean i don't have the ignition wire, and what does the grey one do?"

IGN Wire color fixed. Thanks.

**antimatter** · 06-29-2005, 04:37 PM

Great Post.

On the Opus 90 watt the ignition wire is blue and the power lead is Yellow. I think it might be good to add that information and specify what opus is in the picture. Then you are complete

**Phythorian** · 06-29-2005, 05:05 PM

Just recieved my Opus 120watt yesterday, and to complete your FAQ post you could add this to it.

The Opus120 has 6 wire input connector,
2 yellow
2 black
1 red
1 blue

combine the 2 yellow ones, and connect it to the batt + power
combine the 2 black ones, and connect it to - ground
The red one is the ING wire
And the blue one is remote out, to turn on/off your amp. this happens with a 20 sec. delay.

**jay_tu** · 06-29-2005, 05:22 PM

Option 1

You can use 10 gauge wire for the connections; I believe Opus recommends 12 awg. Most people use 10 to be safe, especially when running longer lengths to the trunk.

Thanks, that is great timing, I just setup all the wire's last night, and was getting ready to connect them tonight after work. Its good verification for me.

I am useing 12 awg, for about 24 feet (from battery to trunk) that should be ok right ?.

Also I want to connect my TS from the OPUS, can i do that ? if so how?
Its the 150W OPUS.

thanks a lot

**antimatter** · 06-29-2005, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by jay_tu

Option 1

You can use 10 gauge wire for the connections; I believe Opus recommends 12 awg. Most people use 10 to be safe, especially when running longer lengths to the trunk.

Thanks, that is great timing, I just setup all the wire's last night, and was getting ready to connect them tonight after work. Its good verification for me.

I am useing 12 awg, for about 24 feet (from battery to trunk) that should be ok right ?.

Also I want to connect my TS from the OPUS, can i do that ? if so how?
Its the 150W OPUS.

thanks a lot

i wouldn't run any less than 10 gauge at that length with the opus 150. I had problems until i ran 8awg to my opus 90w i could have run 10-12 for the 90w.

**Quattro** · 06-29-2005, 09:27 PM

Thanks for the info guys, I added a wire coloring scheme diagram. I hope that helps.

Does anyone know he coloring scheme for the Opus 80w, so I and add that to the diagram as well?

Bugbyte check PM.