my amp install (lenghty w/info snippets)

[maverick]

first off i would like to thank everyone who answered any of the questions i might have had during my installation of an amplifier. I decided I would do a write up on my experiences and throw in some stuff I thought "if i had only known that before I started".

ok so basically when you install an amp you have 2 choices for getting power to the speakers:
1)run new wire directly to the speakers (more for aftermarket)
2) splice into the existing harness and use existing speaker wire

i decided that i wanted to run new wires because:
1)I had aftermarket speakers
2)I wanted to learn and give myself a challenge

My Alpine HU had preouts so I ran 4 RCA cables down along the console, underneath the carpet (existing hole where cable from power driver seat goes), to where I was going to mount the amp (under the driver side rear seat)

I ran power from the battery down the driver side panels and to the amp

Ok so here is where the fun began: running speaker wire
Here are some things I recommend
1)Remove the rear seats
2)DO NOT spend an arm and a leg buying "overkill" wire that you do not need
What I did was I referenced the American Wire Gage Table and used less expensive wire that still gave the proper power rating to the speakers I used. This is just a RECOMMENDATION
3)Now I am not sure on other models, but on my 2000 X, the driver side door is different from the other three. There is a plastic box blocking the tube path. I did not feel like dealing with it so instead of running new wire for it I just spliced into the harness.

I hope some of these tips are useful or helpful. If you have any questions I will be more than happy to try to help b/c I know how helpful the board has been to me. Thank You
-Sean

 

[XLoudFN97X]

Good info for those beginning a system in a 2G Explorer. The wire gauge guide is very useful, and remember that in the auto, buy better protected speaker cable (better protected from metal and panels, and with better noise protection) and not necessarily a smaller gauge wire (bigger cable). The cable I chose run was both, and was unforgivingly hard.

Thats a 6.5" component set in my speaker wire

 

[maverick]

I agree. I had some very nice monster cable xp laying around...10 or 12 gage if i recall. It has insulation surrounding not only the wire itself but the plastic tubing surrounding the wire. The other thing that is nice is that it the cable is very well protected by the trim panels and such.