I need a quick run down for an audio install...

[Tyler_Lueken]

Hey guys. I need some help. I am installing an enclosure and an amp for my girlfriend. I am sure she has all the wiring. Now explain something to me real quick.

I know I have to run the power cable from the positive terminal to a fuse or fuse box. Now which fuse do I run it to, where at on the fuse box do I connect it, or should the cable already have a fuse on it?

After that I need to run it through the firewall and into the cab. From there I have to get it to the trunk. My best guess would be to run it under the carpet, correct? How do I remove that? Does it just pop up and get pushed back down or what?

Once I get it in the trunk I am golden except I need to ground it. Some say ground it up front or you can ground in the trunk. Totally clueless on this.

Then the RCA cables. Same as power cable except instead of going to the battery I take it behind the dash and plug it into the stereo.

What am I missing?

Thanks in advance guys.

[J-Ri]

Originally Posted by Tyler_Lueken

Hey guys. I need some help. I am installing an enclosure and an amp for my girlfriend. I am sure she has all the wiring. Now explain something to me real quick.

I know I have to run the power cable from the positive terminal to a fuse or fuse box. Now which fuse do I run it to, where at on the fuse box do I connect it, or should the cable already have a fuse on it?

After that I need to run it through the firewall and into the cab. From there I have to get it to the trunk. My best guess would be to run it under the carpet, correct? How do I remove that? Does it just pop up and get pushed back down or what?

Once I get it in the trunk I am golden except I need to ground it. Some say ground it up front or you can ground in the trunk. Totally clueless on this.

Then the RCA cables. Same as power cable except instead of going to the battery I take it behind the dash and plug it into the stereo.

What am I missing?

Thanks in advance guys.

Some vehicles have an extra open space for additional fuses. Most don't (pretty sure cavaliers don't) If yours doesn't, I STRONGLY recommend that you replace BOTH battery terminals with ones that have a way to add a cable (dont just run an "eye" connector to the battery bolt) Also, install an inline fuse as close to the battery as possible.

the trim pieces around the carpet just pop out, run the cables under there.

You'll almost certainly want to run a ground wire back to the battery. The body ground cable is very small (I think 10 gauge), so it really isn't suitable for any significant amperage. Also, don't go overboard on the power wire to the amp. Take a look at the wire coming off the alternator... except for enlarging it one or two sizes for the distance it travels, don't go bigger than the B+ wire on the alt. If your amp actually consumes that much power, install a high amperage alternator or you'll burn the stock one up in no time

[TDWPgtp]

how many watts RMS is the amp? chances are amp will require a power wire larger than what ur fuse box could accept anyway. it will probably be around 8 gauge. as for the ground wire, u could get away with drilling into some solid sheet metal or if u can get to the frame as long as u have a good connection with bare metal. i have 4 gauge with 3 amps and over 1000 watts rms going thru my sheet metal with no problems. and ur gunna need a remote wire to turn the amp on. do u have an after market radio or stock?

[J-Ri]

Originally Posted by TDWPgtp

how many watts RMS is the amp? chances are amp will require a power wire larger than what ur fuse box could accept anyway. it will probably be around 8 gauge. as for the ground wire, u could get away with drilling into some solid sheet metal or if u can get to the frame as long as u have a good connection with bare metal. i have 4 gauge with 3 amps and over 1000 watts rms going thru my sheet metal with no problems. and ur gunna need a remote wire to turn the amp on. do u have an after market radio or stock?

I know this is probably resolved since the post is so old, but in case it's not and for any searchers: That 1000 watts is a mere 83.3 amps@12v. No way do you need the 4 ga. wire. You'd be just fine with 8 ga., good for 100A. It's a good thing that 8 ga. is all you need, because grounding to sheet metal means you're grouning through the battery body ground cable, which guess what? Is 10 or 8 gauge! People spend all the extra money on a thumb-size cable that in most cases they don't need. Unless you've got a high power alternator, you'd be burning them up unless all the power the amplifier needed could "squeeze" through a small cable.