Redoing the wiring

[ramrod]

Well sometime this week im gonna start rewiring my stereo. Anyone have any tips to make sure i don't wind up ahving to do it again i na few months?

[C_Note]

Rip out all of your interior. Run the power cable up one side (driver/passenger), ground up the other (opposite power), and RCA channels up the center. That's how we used to do it, to prevent interference. You can also run them through split looming, for added protection from contact/elements/etc.

[Feedman]

Rip out all of your interior. Run the power cable up one side (driver/passenger), ground up the other (opposite power), and RCA channels up the center. That's how we used to do it, to prevent interference. You can also run them through split looming, for added protection from contact/elements/etc.

I think that would be the absolute best, but uneeded, and extra work.

Usually you can get by, assuming your rca's aren't super cheap, and run the power wire and remote if you choose down one side, and the rca's down the other.

The ground usually comes off the amp and can be bolted down in the trunk on a nice clean pant free area...some sanding may be required.

Clean the battery termials, attach all connections, and rock on.... 8)

[ramrod]

About runnig the rcs down the center wouldnt that allow noise from thee tranny to possibly enter the system? Second thing my power cap i s located on the opposite side of the car then my battery so i was wandering if it owuld be better to run the power straight back then cross to the opposite inside the car or cross it to the otherside while its still in the engine bay?

[C_Note]

Not sure what a power cap is, does that help take some of the load off the alternator, or something? If you need to run power to it, then do it there in the bay; no sense in running it all the way back, just to return it to the front.

[daveb91]

Cross the power wire over while it is in the trunk or under the back seat before it gets to the trunk. The thing here is to make sure the RCAs and the power cables are seperated. The ground wire should be as short as you can make it.

[Racerx300zx]

Solder, solder solder, and clamp all your connections well, in a vise if possible, if done right, you have an emergency tow strap :twisted:

[ramrod]

about crossing the power wire across the backseat wont it still cross with the rcas or will that little crossing not matter all that much? And yes a Power Capacitor i used to store energy so during sudden bass hits your amp has power to push the subs while your alternator has time to catch up or somthing like that.

[C_Note]

Ok, I misunderstood. I thought you said the capacitor was up front, but I guess it's in the back with the amp(s)? In that case, run a single power line straight back to the trunk area, into a power distribution block. From there run one line to the capacitor and one to the amp. Or does the cap need to be inline, from the battery to the amp?

[narfdanarf]

I have also heard you can put a ground up by your headunit (small wire, like a remote wire) and tape it to the rca's. For some reason or another this will help get rid of some interference.

And like Liam said, make sure you solder everything good, and use heatshrink or tape the best you can to insulate it.

IMHO there is no need to run anything under the center console, just run power/remote down one side(side closest to battery) and the rca's down the other side. For ground wire make sure you scrape off paint and put it somewhere as short as possible, maybe you can use a seat bolt or something for the rear seat if need be.

Last thing(sort of a given) is to cut all wires to length, no need to have lots of extra wires coiled up picking up interference.

Remember if you need any help you can get a hold of me.

[ramrod]

myo ld rcas had a little ground wire ran through it but i didnt have anywhere to ground the wire to everything ran fine till that one day when it started messing up

[daveb91]

Those RCAs were grounded and shielded which helps cut down on noise.

[ramrod]

I have a question about runnign the rcas. When I go to hide them wats the best way to do that last time i jsut kind of shoved em under the dash to make sure they held, but i know there is a better way then that and i can't really do that when the glove compartment is there to seing down. Any ideas?

[narfdanarf]

I always just put up in the dash, and under the carpet. Use zipties where applicable. If you can't find a place out of site to hide them, you can use some black wire loom. Kind of helps clean it up a bit.

[C_Note]

When I said strip out all your interior, I meant all of it. That includes carpet.

[ramrod]

i liek my carpet :-(

[C_Note]

...

You would put it back in after you finish the install.

[ramrod]

lol i know.
I got to buy the wiring and ill be set to go

[Uber_DSM]

Ive never had to take the carpet out to install wires. and ive had my share of installations

[dysturbed_90dx_4dr]

If and only if RCA cables must cross on the same side as a power wire anyplace it should be tied down so that they will intersect at a 90 degree angle like only cross once and only in one spot. Much like networking cable this will cause the least amount of interference in the RCA cables.

Also you should invest in some good shielded RCA cables if you are really that concerned because no mater where you run wire in your car it's likely that it will intersect some kinda of 12v carrying wire in the car.

You could avoid crossing them by running the RCA through the top of your truck and the power wire through the bottom of the trunk if possible. This will keep you from haveing any problems with it.

And soder is good also though not nessisary with the correct kinds of connectors that cost way to much for a average system. Such as the PG Zero connectors or the Stinger high end connectors. They make you fold the wire around a pice that screws into it's self so that there is NO possible way for it to slip out. Nice but pricy at like 5 bucks a connector.

Dysturbed

[Racerx300zx]

And soder is good also though not nessisary with the correct kinds of connectors that cost way to much for a average system. Such as the PG Zero connectors or the Stinger high end connectors. They make you fold the wire around a pice that screws into it's self so that there is NO possible way for it to slip out. Nice but pricy at like 5 bucks a connector.

Dysturbed

I've used the last type of connector you mentioned does strip out sometimes, so I still believe in solder

[Feedman]

Solder only....takes a small amount of time, if done correctly, last a lifetime. 8)

[kiddefcon]

I run my RCAs right with my remote & power wire along the left side of my jeep. No ground noise what so ever, My battery is on the right side under the hood, and i couldn't find a gromit to run the wire thru, so i had to run it accross the engine bay *tucked under away from anything that could harm the wire* down the left side of my jeep, where i have my inline fuse deck with 2 80 Amp fuses in it, then another 4 ga running to my amp. It works fine and I dont think you'd have to completely strip ur carpet out, if anything, maybe seats and center column...

[Uber_DSM]

Try the steering wheel colum. cut a hole in that part.. tahts what i finally found on mine.

[narfdanarf]

There should be a grommet in the passenger side of your Jeep somewhere.


I would highly recommend not running a power wire anywhere close to your steering column....Unless of course you like to burn shit down.

[xjoewhitex]

Solder only....takes a small amount of time, if done correctly, last a lifetime. 8)

very tru it takes more time then just to tie a couple of wires together but it will never come apart and if done correctly will always have a prefect connection.... I solder everything i connect.. 8)

[daveb91]

Most cars have many rubber gromments all over the firewall.

[ramrod]

I had ac run my wire through the firewall so i didnt screw up lol

But anyway just got done soldering the wiring harness man thts a pain. Now all i ahve to do is run wires and ill be good to go