Car Amp Install......need a techie

[Monk]

I'm gonna install a 300w amp to boost the
rear speakers in my '55 Chevy........question:

Manf suggests installing horizontally but vertical is OK
Any downside installing one vertically?

Also.......I'd like to hide it in the spare tire well.
Thoughts about that?

[BetterWithBoost]

Re: Car Amp Install......need a techie

I'll be glad to help with this...

It doesn't really matter whether you mount it horizontally or vertically,
just as long as the amp can "breathe". Usually there are cooling holes
or fins cut into the side of an amp to allow airflow. Don't restrict these
regardless of how you mount it.

Hiding the amp in the spare tire well is fine. I would suggest using self
tapping screws or some type of bracket to make sure it stays secure,
as any bump may send it flying and either disconnect wires or possibly
damage the amp. If you don't want to put any holes in the metal for
mounting, you can always wedge it in diagonally.

If you need any help wiring it up, please send me a PM.

[Monk]

Re: Car Amp Install......need a techie

Awesome.........PM headin your way

[kyhunter89]

Re: Car Amp Install......need a techie

same as he said. make a wood platform to screw it to it to that will rest in the spare tire well. remember grounds are as important as positives. shouldn't matter much on a 300watt amp though

[Smack]

Re: Car Amp Install......need a techie

It shouldn't matter if the amp is mounted vertically or horizontally, but some amps will not be ale to "breathe" if mounted upside down.
The main thing is to make sure that the air holes are not blocked and that hte cooling fins will have free air space to transfer the heat from the amp.
Also make sure that the power wire is at least 8 guage and to keep the ground wire as short as possible.

[Monk]

Re: Car Amp Install......need a techie

Thanks for all the feedback.......wood platform, short ground wire
check
check

[urwurznitmahre]

Re: Car Amp Install......need a techie

also.. the top more than likely is alum. with cooling fins..
the fins must go up and down not side to side.. if mounted standing up..
otherwise the fins(coves) will trap the heat.. when the fins go side to side the heat can rise without having to clear every fin and cove..
also mount it on the board with atleast 1" under the amp and the wood.. and use metal tube as spacers for the bolts..
a 2by2 will work but also trap the heat..
the metal sleaves(think alt bolt sleave/spacers) will let the heat out any of 4 dirrections..

I'd not mount it in the tire well.. I'd mount it near the rear seat..
the tire well is the lowest stop in the trunk and also where water will go..
amps don't like water..
behind the seat.. is most times under the rear deck, so even if the rear window leaks or trunk seal fails..
it'll stay dry..
good luck .. a 12 volt computer fan works great on keeping it cool. just don't run it off the same power as the amp..
but the head unit power signal lead to the amp that tunes the amp off and on when you turn the head unit on and off works great for this.. most times.. without noise being fed into the sound..

[yellomalibu]

Re: Car Amp Install......need a techie

also.. the top more than likely is alum. with cooling fins..
the fins must go up and down not side to side.. if mounted standing up..
otherwise the fins(coves) will trap the heat.. when the fins go side to side the heat can rise without having to clear every fin and cove..
also mount it on the board with atleast 1" under the amp and the wood.. and use metal tube as spacers for the bolts..
a 2by2 will work but also trap the heat..
the metal sleaves(think alt bolt sleave/spacers) will let the heat out any of 4 dirrections..

I'd not mount it in the tire well.. I'd mount it near the rear seat..
the tire well is the lowest stop in the trunk and also where water will go..
amps don't like water..
behind the seat.. is most times under the rear deck, so even if the rear window leaks or trunk seal fails..
it'll stay dry..
good luck .. a 12 volt computer fan works great on keeping it cool. just don't run it off the same power as the amp..
but the head unit power signal lead to the amp that tunes the amp off and on when you turn the head unit on and off works great for this.. most times.. without noise being fed into the sound..

I was just going to say to be sure it's mounted (securely) in a place where it has adequate ventilation, for cooling.

Many, if not "most" amps have a thermal switch, and will shut down before they burn up. If you find you have an issue with heat, THEN perpaps you should look into mounting a cooling fan.

Don't get bogged down sweating the technicalities... it's an amp, not the space shuttle. ;)

[urwurznitmahre]

Re: Car Amp Install......need a techie

also.. the top more than likely is alum. with cooling fins..
the fins must go up and down not side to side.. if mounted standing up..
otherwise the fins(coves) will trap the heat.. when the fins go side to side the heat can rise without having to clear every fin and cove..
also mount it on the board with atleast 1" under the amp and the wood.. and use metal tube as spacers for the bolts..
a 2by2 will work but also trap the heat..
the metal sleaves(think alt bolt sleave/spacers) will let the heat out any of 4 dirrections..

I'd not mount it in the tire well.. I'd mount it near the rear seat..
the tire well is the lowest stop in the trunk and also where water will go..
amps don't like water..
behind the seat.. is most times under the rear deck, so even if the rear window leaks or trunk seal fails..
it'll stay dry..
good luck .. a 12 volt computer fan works great on keeping it cool. just don't run it off the same power as the amp..
but the head unit power signal lead to the amp that tunes the amp off and on when you turn the head unit on and off works great for this.. most times.. without noise being fed into the sound..

I was just going to say to be sure it's mounted (securely) in a place where it has adequate ventilation, for cooling.

Many, if not "most" amps have a thermal switch, and will shut down before they burn up. If you find you have an issue with heat, THEN perpaps you should look into mounting a cooling fan.

Don't get bogged down sweating the technicalities... it's an amp, not the space shuttle. ;)

yes it's not the space shuttle, but . even tho. they have a thermal switch, the more heat ,the more distortion,
and what the quikest way to kill speakers, distortion, even at low output levels an amp that is hot but not so hot that it shuts down. can have as much as 10% distortion.. even very highend amps will get up to 2%..
and even at low volume levels will kill a speaker fast..
the amp will clip before it gets anywhere near that thermal shut down.. and clipping distroys midrange drivers and tweeters..
so monk anything you can do to keep the amp cool, and mounting it is a cheap way..(45* angles are best to get the heat off the heatsink if not mounting flat) will make the amp work easier and use let power that inturn causes less heat..
and if this car sees summer heat, and in the trunk, I'd add the computer like fan.. they're cheap

nope not the shuttle,, but why make the amp work harder if it doesn't have to.. your cars alt will thank you too.

[Monk]

Re: Car Amp Install......need a techie

It might as well be the space shuttle
;D

I'm still using the head cleaner on my 8 track

Again......thanks to everyone for the input

BTW.......I think Hagerty's policy covers electrical fires
:D

[urwurznitmahre]

Re: Car Amp Install......need a techie

fuse.. think fuse ;) ;)

[kyhunter89]

Re: Car Amp Install......need a techie

put the fuse on the power as close to the battery as possible. radioshack has the 12v computer fans for $9 if i remember. i made a new stainless back cover for one of my fusion then drilled a 3" hole and punched four mounting holes to mount it. i can post pics if you want.

[Smack]

Re: Car Amp Install......need a techie

No need to worry about a fan for a 300 watt amp running 6X9's. Even the cheapest amps that I have seen would have no issues with heat just pushing small speakers like that.

[urwurznitmahre]

Re: Car Amp Install......need a techie

No need to worry about a fan for a 300 watt amp running 6X9's. Even the cheapest amps that I have seen would have no issues with heat just pushing small speakers like that.

oh, ok..
well tell that to my rockford fosgate punch amp..200w per true rms
tha is only driving 2 high end b/a 3 way 6-9's mounting it in the trunk..
car is a g body SS

[kyhunter89]

Re: Car Amp Install......need a techie

mine RF pushes around 435 rms to 2 12" and has never kicked off. the fusion kicks off anytime a bass line stops, btw 160 amp alt and a yellowtop. 1ga powerwire and 2ga ground. tried 2 and 4 ohms.