Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 15:05:59 GMT From: Andre Brousseau <Answer50nopsamail.com> Subject: Re: OK to draw power from rear running lights?
That is exactely what I was meaning, the best way, I think If you really want to trigger it with the rear running lights is to run a big wire directly from the battery and use a relay to trigger it with the rear running lights, but as Johannes Hyvärinen said, it's important to put a fuse on the big power cable going to your amp to avoid bigger problems! Andre Brousseau 88 900 8-valve "Johannes Hyvärinen" wrote: > I think this needs a little clarification.. There *must* be a fuse in > every wire taken from the battery, not having one may result in a fire > if a short circuit occurs. What Andre probably means above is that the > original fuse and wires for the rear lights are not big enough to > handle the additional current an amplifier takes. (At least about 10 > Amperes when you turn the volume high [P=U*I, 120W=12V*10A]. Check the > amplifier's manual if you have one.) > > Take the time to run a big enough power cable for the amp. Use thicker > cable than you actually need, to avoid running a new wire if you want > to upgrade the amp. It's not very expensive. If the cable is too thin > the voltage for the amp will drop and you won't get all the watts out > of it. Install a 16 Ampere fuse in the cable as close to the battery as > practical, for example on top of the fender. The easiest way to run the > cable is under the floor mat on the right side of the car between the > seats and doors. (assuming that your car is anything like my '81 99GL > :) > > -- > Johannes Hyvärinen johannes.hyvarinennopsamfi