Where to wire subwoofer to?

colliehauler wrote:


Unless it is a very low power amplifier it will require a dedicated wire to the battery and ground. My amplifier requires a 4 gage wire and its own 30 amp fuse.

Keep in mind the ground wire will need to be the same size as the power wire as well.

X2 on the wire gauge. I also used 4g hot and ground for my 4 channel amp, straight off the house battery. A remote signal from the head unit turns the amp on and off.

I take it your using a automotive subwoofer amplifier? If so there are wire size requirements and they pull a lot of power. Most wires that run to the stereo are to small to supply much current. Another thing to consider is if you are depending on battery power alone a large amplifier will run a battery down very quickly if not plugged into a charging source.

Unless it is a very low power amplifier it will require a dedicated wire to the battery and ground. My amplifier requires a 4 gage wire and its own 30 amp fuse.

Keep in mind the ground wire will need to be the same size as the power wire as well.

Grit dog wrote:

2oldman wrote:
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My thoughts too. Wire it to wherever the stereo is wired to. Same switched source to power a relay triggering power from the batt or fuse block if it's a powered sub. Same if you have an external amp.
Don't power different components using the same head unit signal to different sources and don't piggyback grounds. Dedicated ground to same location for each component. Don't want a ground loop causing noise.

Your solution is probably the best (same power source and ground).
If the headunit has an LFE channel, it's typically not that critical when using a dedicated sub amp.

2oldman wrote:
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My thoughts too. Wire it to wherever the stereo is wired to. Same switched source to power a relay triggering power from the batt or fuse block if it's a powered sub. Same if you have an external amp.
Don't power different components using the same head unit signal to different sources and don't piggyback grounds. Dedicated ground to same location for each component. Don't want a ground loop causing noise.

I agree, the house batteries. They do, or at least should, be charged from the alternator while you're driving.

It's better to have the house batteries run down and the pump, etc. not work than to have the chassis batteries run down and you're stranded and unable to move. The house battery bank probably has more capacity, as well, or at least can be configured to have more capacity.

On my motorhome, as with many but not all, the plain little dash radio is powered by the house battery.

Hook it to the house batteries. If your engine doesn't charge the house batteries while you're driving you need to find out why and get it fixed.

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I'd put it on the house battery

as long as your chassis DC system is setup to charge the house battery while the engine is running, you'll have thumping bass driving and parked.

as for running the battery down, if that's something your prone to often, consider investing in a battery isolator with battery rundown protection.

Blue Sea has a few, and I imagine there are other brands as well.