other sources for remote turn on

[hannibal]

I'm working on installing a amp and sub in my Escort. I cant get the damn head unit out the dash. Its one of Ford's greatest designs (like the Taurus) where the A/C controls share the same face as the radio. The cable behind the temp control knob isnt long enough for me to pull the unit out of the dash.So I'm looking for another place to connect the remote turn on wire. I was planning to plug into the radio's harness where the power antenna wire should go. (No power antenna in base Escort!). My question is whether there is a another circuit that has power only when the radio is on. Ive been searching on the12volt.com and some people say to tap into the ignition harness. I'm not afraid of doing that if I have to, but wouldn't the amp be on any time the car is running if I use the ignition harness??

ThanksJay

[mikew04]

Yes, it will be. Thats what i wired mine to when the remote wire off my head unit shorted. Not sure if there is another wire that only turns on with the head unit.

[hannibal]

Thanks Mike. I guess thats my best option then.I found a way to get the 4 gauge power cable thru the firewall without drilling any more holes. I got the trim under the door pulled up right now, so I gotta find a switched 12V wire for the remote lead so I can run these 2 wires to the trunk and put the trim back in place.I should have bass by tomorrow... Yeah!!

[MECPInstaller]

if you don't wanna find a 12v ignition wire just find a 12 volt source (like the cigarette lighter) quick and easy to get to and their should only be two wires some cars the cigarette lighter will only work when the car is on and on accessory so. Others the lighter will work anytime so thats a constant 12v and you could just mount alil switch inline between the power source and the amp so you can manually turn the amps on and off. I still have my factory deck and what i did was just run the remote turn on wire from the power connection on the amp up to my centerconsole to a switch then back to the remote turn on terminal on the amp looks alil ghetto haveing the 4guage with alil blue wire next to it but it was a quick and easy fix could clean it up with acouple zip ties but doing a huge new system anyway so it'll change in the future (the Backseat Blowout Thread)