Installing Amp- All I have to say is...

[bumpin_p5]

Dude. If you are thinking of installing an amp in your p5 I would suggest going with the smallest gauge power cable that you can. For my system I had to use 4 gauge and man I tell you what... getting that huge ass line through that grommet is a straight pain in your rump. But hey I am glad I did it. So far I have saved alot of money by installing my own stuff. This is just something to think about when you want to install a amp in the future... have fun protegers.

 

[TUNGSTENGREYWIDOW]

I am running 1 gauge in mine wasn't any trouble at all.

 

[Protege52003]

think i used an 8 or 10 guage and i had no real trouble.......

4 and 1/0 are tough!

 

[WetsuitxNinja]

2 gauge for me. wasnt THAT bad. It was definately harder in the 3....

 

[Beau M]

Just drill a hole on that white plastic plug and put in a gromet. Its never a good idea to run the smallest power wire, go with the biggest you can afford.

 

[jamesk]

does anybody have a picture where you run the amp cable from the battery to the inside? i cant figure it out..

 

[khaosman]

does anybody have a picture where you run the amp cable from the battery to the inside? i cant figure it out..

More here: http://www.khaosman.com/gallery/mp5install

It is on the driver's side of the firewall. Take out the battery to get easier access to it. I had little to no trouble running 1/0awg through it. Speaker wire through the door jambs however...

 

[masda]

i also had a problem to begin with but the problem is you don't have the right tools and rush!


You got to do it right using tools and some creativity i used a coat hanger twisted it around the 4 gauge wire and pulled like there was no tommorow and it went through

 

[blthlt]

1 word; varibit

 

[neoturner]

does anybody have a picture where you run the amp cable from the battery to the inside? i cant figure it out..

it's easier to spot under the steering wheel. look there where the wires go through and then slide around front and find the grommet. later on in the amp how to they talk about that route which is a lot easier i promise.

 

[WetsuitxNinja]

After pulling wire thru my doors I decided to never do that again. Seriously I couldnt get a drill to fit, so I sat with an exacto knife and coat hanger I heated up to try to make a hole. **** that. like 4 hours later I got one door done. only two more hours for the other. Worst Episode Evarrrr.

who puts plastic connector things in the doors anyways.... WHY MAZDA WHY.

If I ever had to do that again I would seriously take my door completely off.

 

[2003newlyack]

i ran 4 gauge through my firewall no problem

 

[pfive]

you don't wanna get ghetto with a power wire. the amp will run hotter and cause damage. use the biggest possible.

 

[Canecreekfreak]

does anybody have a picture where you run the amp cable from the battery to the inside? i cant figure it out..

It's on the firewall behind the battery, about 12" down from the base of the windshield. I unplugged the windshield wiper motor harness for easier access. Just remember to plug it back in.

 

[Crazy D]

8 Gauge on mine all the way through the arm rest or center console, then divided it with the Lighting Audio fuse box (Pic of box on arm rest under "my cheap sound system thread")....it wasn't that bad (Running 2 Amps for 2 12")

 

[neoturner]

Ok Dammit, here are the pics so we can just get it over with.

The first pic is the grommet from the outside. I ran my primary differently but this is the best way. See where my little neon power wire goes into the firewall.

Drivers side behind the battery. That is the grommet.

Pic 2:

Close up of the inside of the car where it comes in. It is to the left of the steering wheel bar, Way up under the dash, take the cover off that is under the steering wheel to gain access.

Pic 3:

little further back so you can orient the grommet. There is a small piece of sound deader that just pulls off so you can see the ruber grommet.

 

[anarchistchiken]

you don't wanna get ghetto with a power wire. the amp will run hotter and cause damage. use the biggest possible.

No, the amp temperature cant be effected by the size of the power wire. I've seen the wire melt before if too small a wire is used though. easy way to figure out what size you need is like so,

100-300 watts = 8 gauge
301-700 watts = 4 gauge
701-1000 = 2 gauge
anything above that go with 1/0

And I'm not talkin about those bad Sony amps that are labeled at 1200 but only make 500 RMS. These are RMS wattages I'm talking about, not peak.

 

[jamesk]

alright thanks guys, all your inputs really helped and made things alot easier! i appreciate it alot.

 

[MIKE IN ATLANTA]

??

dunno if any of you guys ran it to this problem (i'm pulling a little more current than your average joe) but I was runnig out of voltage(BAD),,,dimming headlights and the whole nine,,,Upgraded the batteries ground and it was all good http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=79065

 

[neoturner]

dunno if any of you guys ran it to this problem (i'm pulling a little more current than your average joe) but I was runnig out of voltage(BAD),,,dimming headlights and the whole nine,,,Upgraded the batteries ground and it was all good http://www.msprotege.com/forum/at... gauge power wire and the grounding combined.