Powah! The role your vehicles charging system plays.
Probably the most important, and unfortunately one of the most overlooked, areas in mobile audio is the Charging system.
I cannot stress enough the importance of having a properly working and adequately powered charging system in your car.
The basic charging system consists of the battery, alternator and wiring. In some cases it even becomes necessary to add an additional aftermarket powersupply, alternator or battery.
Take heart though, this stuff is easy to tackle and, if you have ever worked on a car, you can make sure your system is up to snuff.
First things first, check with your dealer and see what the output in Amps (Amperes) your alternator is rated at. If it is rated less than 75 or 80 amp, you will need to upgrade if you install anything above a
moderately powered single amplifier system.
Next thing I would do is have your vehicle's charging system checked out by a Qualified mechanic. Think of it as part of your equipment list. Just plan on $50 bucks or so from the start and it won't seem so bad.
It is a necessary step in your installation. If your mechanic gives the system the OK we are on to the next step.
While your mechanic is checking the electrical system have him tell check the condition of the wiring from the battery to the starter and ground and from the alternator to the battery. Also you may wish to upgrade
the battery cable ends to heavy duty ones with auxilary connection points. This does two things: it makes the installation look neater and gives you more positive connections than ring terminals connected to standard
ends.
Your battery should be in peak condition. You will be asking it to be repeatedly charged and discharged under a greater than normal load wich can cause it to wearout more quickly. A general rule of thumb is
if your battery is more than three years old, get a new one. If you can afford it, get a deep cycle battery that will fit in your car. Again, a good mechanic or your local stereo shop can suggest one. Also,
you may not have to buy one specifically for car stereos. I have a deep cycle battery in my truck that was bought from a car battery store for only $80 instead of the sometimes $200 or more that stereo stores want.
You must keep in mind that your amplifiers need to be running as close to 13.8 volts as possible with the ability to draw maximum current through the wires you run.
That being said, you should use the appropriate guage wire for your equipment. I will always suggest using at least 8ga. power/ground cables for any amplifier installation. I have seen some amps run with less but in the end,
performance suffered. If you use too small of wire you can actually cause a fire hazard! PLEASE, ERR ON THE LARGE SIDE WHEN BUYING POWER CABLING!!!
When running wire through holes in metal always use a grommet to keep the metal from wearing through the jacket of the wire and causing a short.
Always fuse your main power line near the battery. Usually within 12 to 17 inches of the battery should be a waterproof fuse holder with a fuse that is rated at 30 to 60 amps. This is to protect your car - not your equipment!
If a piece of equipment shorts to ground or a power wire jacket wears thin and touches a ground it can arch, melting to the piece of metal and melting your battery and also cause a fire.
DO NOT ATTEMPT A CAR STEREO INSTALLATION UNLESS YOU CAN AFFORD THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT TO INSURE YOUR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF YOUR VEHICLE...PERIOD!!!!
