12 volt lead
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Woodstock, Ontario
12 volt lead
Where's a good place to find a 12 volt power source in an explorer sport. I just bought a base cannon with built in amplifier and it says it needs a 12 volt source which turns off with the ignition. I was thinking of taking it from my rear heater controls. That does everyone think?
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Pauline, South Carolina
What year is the sport and how much will the bass cannon pull? Heater controls could get more feedback noise from the fan motor. A cleaner installation would be to run a fused wire from the battery side of the starter solenoid, but that would be hot all the time unless you used a relay that's activated with an ignition switch lead.
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Woodstock, Ontario
It's a 2001. I don't know how much the cannon will pull. It's a 200W system with an 8" woofer. I was hoping to not run it from the battery, but I may not be able to do that.
Elder User
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From: Pauline, South Carolina
At 200 watts for 12 volts it would pull 16-2/3 amps. Allow for some safety margin, increased amps over a fixed resistance as the voltage goes up, and general inefficiencies, and you'll need to allow for it to pull around 20 to 25 amps. That's a lot to add to any existing system. I'd wire for 25 amps and fuse for 20.
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Woodstock, Ontario
ok...so I should run it from the battery and put in a 20 amp fuse. I'm not that good with electrical, so how do I wire it so it turns on and off with the ignition? Or should I just put in a lighted toggle switch, for some added "bling".
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Pauline, South Carolina
If you just use a switch, make sure it's rated for the amps that you will be pulling. Otherwise, you'll need to use a relay. To get a clean power spot, follow the + battery cable from the battery to the place it first connects. It'll be a terminal on the starter solenoid. I would use at least a 12 guage wire or bigger (note: smaller guage number is a bigger wire).
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Woodstock, Ontario
ok...so all I have to do is run it from the starter solenoid to the amp and it will work with the ignition? Now all I have to do is find a hole to pull the wire into the cabin
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Fort Smith
Does it not have a remote wire? Usually you have a power wire and a wire that you connect so the amp comes on and off with the ignition (usually called a remote wire).
For 200 watts, I would run at least a 10 gauge wire. You really would rather go from the battery. Trying to run that much off any factory wire could create problems later on. Most of the factory wiring is not made to handle that much current along with what it is already running to. You might want run a wire from the battery (fuse at the front) and add a relay in somewhere that you can also run to an ignition wire (or one that iwll turn on/off with the switch) - that way you don't have to add a toggle switch.
For 200 watts, I would run at least a 10 gauge wire. You really would rather go from the battery. Trying to run that much off any factory wire could create problems later on. Most of the factory wiring is not made to handle that much current along with what it is already running to. You might want run a wire from the battery (fuse at the front) and add a relay in somewhere that you can also run to an ignition wire (or one that iwll turn on/off with the switch) - that way you don't have to add a toggle switch.
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Woodstock, Ontario
The amp is pretty basic. All it has is 12V, Ground, Speaker +, Speaker -. I have the power wire, ground wire, 30 amp fuse, now all I need is a relay. Does it matter where the relay is placed?
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Pauline, South Carolina
Depends on the relay. Most can go under the hood or inside, but make sure it's sealed if you're putting it under the hood. It is important to put the fuse as close as possible to the end of the wire that's connected to the battery + source. Also, it you're using the 30 amp fuse, make sure you use a relay capable of 30 amps.
