Comp Subs
How to wire my subs and speakers?
So i've got 2 12 inch Kicker Comp subs and 4 kicker s series speakers. I was thinking of getting 2 amps a 4 channel for my speakers and a 2 channel for my subs, but how do i wire them. Do i just get rca splitters and a splitter for the control cable coming from the head unit? And how would i tell my 2 channel amp its powering subs. Also what are capacitors and how do i know if i need them?
Ok wiring amps 101
1st. you need to run a power wire from your battery to wherever your amps will be at (usually the trunk). I suggest using 4 guage wire.
2nd. You will need a ground wire for your amps. this is usually achieved by drilling a small hole in the trunk for a screw, but all you need is any metal part of the car body for a ground.
3rd. you need a remote wire from the headunit to the amps. this tells the amps when to turn on and off. so when the headunit turns on, the amps turn on and vice versa. not having a remote wire, without it your amps will never turn on.
4th. you need to run RCAs from the headunit to the amps. the rca cords relay the music signal to the amps. the only reason why you would need an RCA splitter would be to split the the rca's to more than one amp, if you don't already have 2 sets of rca's preouts on the headunit.
5th. You will need to run speaker wires from all the speakers, to the amplifiers.
If you are uncomfortable with completing any of those steps, then you need to get your system installed professionally.
as for telling your 2 channel amp that it is powering subwoofers. it should have a low pass filter on it. this will aloow you to cut out the music signals above a certain frequency. that way your amp only sends bass music signals to your subwoofers.
a capacitor looks like a big soda can. It is supposed to charge up to the same voltage of your alternator, so that when your electrical system goes through a voltage drop (usually caused by amplified kick drum signals) the cap will supply the electrical system with electricity to help get the voltage back up. most of the time it is used with the belif that it will stop your headlights from dimming. but it seldomly does, because they are extremely inefficient at storing and releasing current. if your headlight dim after you have everything installed, you can try usuing a cap as a solution, but it probably won't help. and if it doesn't then you should take it back out, because it would just become another burden on the electrical system.