My CarPC Diagram

OrangeSword · 05-08-2008, 11:49 PM

I've been working on a design diagram for my planned CarPC. I know little to nothing about car audio so I have been doing research and educating myself. My choice of amp is modest I think as I want to contuine to use my stock OEM speakers. Could some of the more seasoned car audio gurus in this fourm critque my diagram? Does it make sense? I am using the correct fuses and wire guages? I will not be using a head unit. Any help is much appreciated.

DarquePervert · 05-09-2008, 06:29 AM

It looks good to me, including your wire gages & fuse ratings.
I promise that you'll want to upgrade the stock speakers at some point, though.

OrangeSword · 05-09-2008, 08:52 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by DarquePervert

It looks good to me, including your wire gages & fuse ratings.
I promise that you'll want to upgrade the stock speakers at some point, though.

No doubt. This is just the first iteration. Thanks!

OrangeSword · 05-09-2008, 11:30 PM

Would it be better to decrease the guage to 8awg for the wires inbetween the distro block and the PC and amp? Apparently its hard to find a distro block that goes from 4 to 12, but 4 to 8 is easier to find. I think I made a mistake on the fuse choice in the distro block anyway. It should have read 15A. If I switch to 8awg i would use 30A fuses.

AWehmeyer · 05-11-2008, 07:53 AM

Despite what everyone else says and what you've probably read, the 4 gauge wire is definitely overkill. Unless you're dying to spend a fortune on power hookup, there are much cheaper ways to do that. Run an 8 gauge from the battery to the amp and a 10 gauge from the battery to the power supply. Then, you can use a pair of cheap fuseholders and standard fuses at the battery and then you don't need another fuse in the back. The fuse at the battery protects the car in case the wire is shorted against the chassis somewhere. The only reason to use a fuseholder/distribution block is so you can run one wire from the battery, because that's easier than running a bunch. You only need two and an 8G and a 10G together will be easier than running a 4G anyway.

Also, contrary to what most people believe, a fuse at the amplifier rarely protects the amplifier.

zeusenergy · 05-11-2008, 02:52 PM

Very nice layout and diagram. When it comes to these systems they are pretty much cookie-cutter but it's nice to see someone spend the time to lay it out in drawing form. This is my first post here (lurking for some time) and looking forward to seeing what you do with your system.