Just wondering if I wanted to build a box/enclosure for my amps and wanted to add say 3.5" 12V fans to the picture, how would I wire in the fans so that they turn on only when the system comes on?I'm thinking if I wire the fans with a wire coming off my distribution block wouldn't that just have them always running 24/7?
What way would you do it so that the power is sent once the radio is turned on or when the amps get a turn on signal from the HU Blue wire?
I know I could do a switch but then I'd have to run wire back to the HU area and then back to the trunk.
Adding Fans how to control?
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AppleBonker
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FN-QR
Wow, good question. I'll teach you from what I learned in my car. Sorry for the length of this post up front.
I would recommend using a relay and a wiring adapter. The relay basically functions as a switch with a 5V source turning it on or off. Search google for Bosch relay for a more detailed description of how it functions if you wish.
There are five connections on the relay. One is a ground and one is a power source (always on). I connected both of these to my battery in my trunk, but you could easily butt connect some wires to the adapter and run them to the power and ground on your amp (just loosen the screws on the power and ground wires for the amp and shove the 16-ish AWG wire in there with your larger gauge power and ground). Next is the turn on wire (run the amp turn on lead from the head unit to this location). The other two wires are the switch. One wire gets the battery voltage (from the always on power source wire) when the switch is off, the other when it is on. You wont use the off position. I ran a wire from the "on" wire to a fused distribution block (always good to fuse if you don't like fires in your car) and then from the block to my amps. You can run from the block to your amps and also the fans.
The way this works is that the amp turn on from the head unit will flip the switch and allow power to flow to the "on" wire and will boot up your amps and run your fans. This means, when the head unit is on, the amps and fans are on. Neither will fire up without the other! The other beauty of this setup comes when you get service done on your car. With mine, I pull the relay out, so the amps can't fire up. The service people can turn my head unit on, but none of the amps function. This stops other people from abusing my stereo! Very cheap in terms of components, but the best solution. Relays are where it's at when powering multiple amps!
I would recommend using a relay and a wiring adapter. The relay basically functions as a switch with a 5V source turning it on or off. Search google for Bosch relay for a more detailed description of how it functions if you wish.
There are five connections on the relay. One is a ground and one is a power source (always on). I connected both of these to my battery in my trunk, but you could easily butt connect some wires to the adapter and run them to the power and ground on your amp (just loosen the screws on the power and ground wires for the amp and shove the 16-ish AWG wire in there with your larger gauge power and ground). Next is the turn on wire (run the amp turn on lead from the head unit to this location). The other two wires are the switch. One wire gets the battery voltage (from the always on power source wire) when the switch is off, the other when it is on. You wont use the off position. I ran a wire from the "on" wire to a fused distribution block (always good to fuse if you don't like fires in your car) and then from the block to my amps. You can run from the block to your amps and also the fans.
The way this works is that the amp turn on from the head unit will flip the switch and allow power to flow to the "on" wire and will boot up your amps and run your fans. This means, when the head unit is on, the amps and fans are on. Neither will fire up without the other! The other beauty of this setup comes when you get service done on your car. With mine, I pull the relay out, so the amps can't fire up. The service people can turn my head unit on, but none of the amps function. This stops other people from abusing my stereo! Very cheap in terms of components, but the best solution. Relays are where it's at when powering multiple amps!
Re: FN-QR (AppleBonker)
Awesome... Thanks Apple. I didn't know about these items.. Cool.So when you take you car into the shop you just unplug that wire from the relay and no loud radio toy fun for the mechanics. Cool.
So you have your 0 gauge wire going to your amps, (or what ever size awg wire) but the turn on switch from the HU is going to your relay, and that then controls sending a turn on signal to your amps, to turn them on. I see.. Very cool.
Well yesterday I just replaced the card board crap on the back of the rear seats with 1/2" ply wood to make sure my amps are secured to the back seat. The cardboard that amps were screwed into weren't good as my friend slammed the seat closed and the amp fell off. So this will hold it down.
Just if anyone is reading this, if you want to do this as well, the rear seats have zipper's on the side of each seat but the bottom is attached by a plastic sleeve that snaps/fits into the bottom of the seat. I didn't realize this till doing the larger of the 2nd seat. So it makes working and replacing with plywood much easier. We used tie wraps with holes in the wood and tied it to the metal fram in the seat. Worked great!
So you have your 0 gauge wire going to your amps, (or what ever size awg wire) but the turn on switch from the HU is going to your relay, and that then controls sending a turn on signal to your amps, to turn them on. I see.. Very cool.
Well yesterday I just replaced the card board crap on the back of the rear seats with 1/2" ply wood to make sure my amps are secured to the back seat. The cardboard that amps were screwed into weren't good as my friend slammed the seat closed and the amp fell off. So this will hold it down.
Just if anyone is reading this, if you want to do this as well, the rear seats have zipper's on the side of each seat but the bottom is attached by a plastic sleeve that snaps/fits into the bottom of the seat. I didn't realize this till doing the larger of the 2nd seat. So it makes working and replacing with plywood much easier. We used tie wraps with holes in the wood and tied it to the metal fram in the seat. Worked great!