Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Would this subwoofer and amp work on my b body? #2612858
01/27/19 01:30 AM
01/27/19 01:30 AM
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 18
California
L
Luis Zavala Offline OP
member
Luis Zavala  Offline OP
member
L

Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 18
California
Curious if this subwoofer would work on my superbird. It’s all original. No I will not be cutting anything on my car or anyting. Just will hide it in the trunk. Curious if I would need to replace thwiring to new wiring or my alternator to something bigger? Or if the factory wiring and alternator will work

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/kicker-dxa2...p;skuId=6298925

Last edited by Luis Zavala; 01/27/19 01:32 AM.
Re: Would this subwoofer and amp work on my b body? [Re: Luis Zavala] #2612924
01/27/19 04:39 AM
01/27/19 04:39 AM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,363
Cotati, CA
Dave Hall Offline
top fuel
Dave Hall  Offline
top fuel

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,363
Cotati, CA
I recommend reading the instructions on the amp. They usually hook directly to the battery and are switched on and off with the head unit. You shouldn't have any troubles with the factory wiring as long as you are not playing the thing for hours without running the car.

Re: Would this subwoofer and amp work on my b body? [Re: Luis Zavala] #2612927
01/27/19 05:11 AM
01/27/19 05:11 AM
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,443
Morristown Tn.
7
71birdJ68 Offline
master
71birdJ68  Offline
master
7

Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,443
Morristown Tn.
I would say the amp is to big for a stock alt, and you would have to run heavy gauge wiring from the trunk to the batt. I did something kind of like that and it wasn't worth the trouble. I am considering downsizing.

Re: Would this subwoofer and amp work on my b body? [Re: Luis Zavala] #2612974
01/27/19 10:52 AM
01/27/19 10:52 AM
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,741
Holland MI Ottawa
2
2boltmain Offline
master
2boltmain  Offline
master
2

Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,741
Holland MI Ottawa
Definately large gauge wire straight to the battery. The install kits are cheap and have everything but your old tech alternator may not be up to the task. In the early 90s I had a Realistic 120 peak watt amp in my Challenger and it was fine but I dont know what the amp draw was or if the unit really put out that power.


Keep old mopars alive.
Re: Would this subwoofer and amp work on my b body? [Re: Luis Zavala] #2613048
01/27/19 02:17 PM
01/27/19 02:17 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 6,089
Valencia, España
NachoRT74 Offline
master
NachoRT74  Offline
master

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 6,089
Valencia, España
on ammeter cars NOTHING must be hooked on batt side of the charging sytem, but on alt side ( no matter if on a juntion inside the cab, but allways on alt side. A wrong sourcing will get wrong readings on ammeter and even damages on it

and the alt upgrade is MANDATORY even running stock cars. This is a big fail from MaMopar what has being hurting the wiring on the long therm life of our cars

some touchs on wiring and bulkhead and voila.

we have talked about that on several threads... search for alt and wiring upgrades around.


With a Charger born in Chrysler assembly plant in Valencia, Venezuela
Re: Would this subwoofer and amp work on my b body? [Re: NachoRT74] #2613606
01/28/19 05:55 PM
01/28/19 05:55 PM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,358
Berwyn, IL
challenger70 Offline
master
challenger70  Offline
master

Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,358
Berwyn, IL
Originally Posted By NachoRT74
on ammeter cars NOTHING must be hooked on batt side of the charging sytem, but on alt side ( no matter if on a juntion inside the cab, but allways on alt side. A wrong sourcing will get wrong readings on ammeter and even damages on it

and the alt upgrade is MANDATORY even running stock cars. This is a big fail from MaMopar what has being hurting the wiring on the long therm life of our cars

some touchs on wiring and bulkhead and voila.

we have talked about that on several threads... search for alt and wiring upgrades around.


iagree

Re: Would this subwoofer and amp work on my b body? [Re: Luis Zavala] #2613750
01/28/19 11:17 PM
01/28/19 11:17 PM
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 5,183
P
Porter67 Offline
master
Porter67  Offline
master
P

Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 5,183
Put the proper capacitor in it and it will be fine.

Re: Would this subwoofer and amp work on my b body? [Re: Luis Zavala] #2613780
01/29/19 12:15 AM
01/29/19 12:15 AM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,935
WI
Dcuda69 Offline
master
Dcuda69  Offline
master

Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,935
WI
I don't run a sub but I do run an amp in the trunk of my B'cuda. Powered from the batt and turned on/off from the head unit. I have done the ammeter by-pass to the charging system. Works good. Rockford-Fosgate amp,Infinity speakers,Clarion head unit. Sourced it all w/install kit from Crutchfield.


Re: Would this subwoofer and amp work on my b body? [Re: Dcuda69] #2613811
01/29/19 01:07 AM
01/29/19 01:07 AM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,095
Western Md.
skicker Offline
"The Champ"
skicker  Offline
"The Champ"

Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,095
Western Md.
As mentioned earlier...don't skimp on the capacitor...

0422120254.jpg2009.jpg

...FAFO...
Re: Would this subwoofer and amp work on my b body? [Re: Luis Zavala] #2613835
01/29/19 02:12 AM
01/29/19 02:12 AM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,363
Cotati, CA
Dave Hall Offline
top fuel
Dave Hall  Offline
top fuel

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,363
Cotati, CA
Could you explain the capacitor? Why? Do these amplifiers draw more than about 5 amps?

Re: Would this subwoofer and amp work on my b body? [Re: Luis Zavala] #2613856
01/29/19 03:23 AM
01/29/19 03:23 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 6,089
Valencia, España
NachoRT74 Offline
master
NachoRT74  Offline
master

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 6,089
Valencia, España
Capacitor works like a power temporal reserve which will be sucked at every boom of the bass saving the batt and alt from trying to supply that load with every boom, afecting everything on car.

Last edited by NachoRT74; 01/29/19 08:54 AM.

With a Charger born in Chrysler assembly plant in Valencia, Venezuela
Re: Would this subwoofer and amp work on my b body? [Re: NachoRT74] #2613965
01/29/19 12:36 PM
01/29/19 12:36 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,095
Western Md.
skicker Offline
"The Champ"
skicker  Offline
"The Champ"

Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,095
Western Md.
They come in different sizes...In my truck with a small sub and amp I have a 1 farad...In the car with a large sub and two fairly large amps I have a 5 farad...
In my pic above the black boxes are Rockford Fosgate Amps...One mono channel for the sub and one 4 channel for the speakers...The silver box to the left is the 5 farad capacitor...barely visible in the pic beside that is the fused link running to the battery thru #0 cable...
Be sure to buy good quality installation kits as some of them on the market are garbage...If you stick with buying through Crutchfield you should be fine...
In a perfect world the fused connection should be closer to the battery and not in the trunk... twocents


...FAFO...
Re: Would this subwoofer and amp work on my b body? [Re: Luis Zavala] #2614129
01/29/19 04:40 PM
01/29/19 04:40 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,322
Michigan
C
crlush Offline
pro stock
crlush  Offline
pro stock
C

Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,322
Michigan
Not sure what size alternator your running, I had 2 amps running on my 66 coronet off of a 36 amp alternator, with the car running and the radio on it would discharge the battery at idle or higher RPMs. I upgraded to the 65 amp alternator and while I dont think its Ideal it doesn't discharge the battery. I upgraded the the alternator wire and do run a capacitor.

Re: Would this subwoofer and amp work on my b body? [Re: Dave Hall] #2614186
01/29/19 06:22 PM
01/29/19 06:22 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
DaytonaTurbo Offline
Too Many Posts
DaytonaTurbo  Offline
Too Many Posts

Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
Originally Posted By Dave Hall
Could you explain the capacitor? Why? Do these amplifiers draw more than about 5 amps?


Yes, way more than 5 amps. A typical amp for a sub will have a cable feeding it the same size as the one going to your starter. The capacitor acts as a power storage so every time the subwoofer booms, that amp surge comes out of the capacitor instead of straight out of the alternator. Run a decent size amp with no capacitor and your headlights will dim with each boom of the sub and you will fry your alternator. I don't bother with this stuff anymore, but years ago I learned some of these lessons the hard way.

Re: Would this subwoofer and amp work on my b body? [Re: Luis Zavala] #2614220
01/29/19 07:37 PM
01/29/19 07:37 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,095
Western Md.
skicker Offline
"The Champ"
skicker  Offline
"The Champ"

Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,095
Western Md.
My Amps run #4 cable from the capacitor to each Amp on both the positive and negative side. The capacitor is powered by a #0 wire from the battery. Using this set-up I have no issues even when running at night using the headlights and the volume above 20...Which it is a lot...The whole system is more powerful than most would like...Only down side is you have to Dynamat the crap out of everything to get really good sound...there's a point where it becomes a "must have"...
I had some grounding issues in the dash when everything was first built...turn up the volume and the oil pressure would drop and the temp gauge would rise...grounded those gauges back to the engine and it was corrected...
Alternator is a one wire Powermaster unit...I think 75 amp... work

2002.jpg2007.jpg2019.jpg2023.jpg

...FAFO...
Re: Would this subwoofer and amp work on my b body? [Re: DaytonaTurbo] #2614442
01/30/19 03:28 AM
01/30/19 03:28 AM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,363
Cotati, CA
Dave Hall Offline
top fuel
Dave Hall  Offline
top fuel

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,363
Cotati, CA
Thanks Daytona for splainig so's I coulds understand iT. grin

Re: Would this subwoofer and amp work on my b body? [Re: Dave Hall] #2614790
01/30/19 10:25 PM
01/30/19 10:25 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,376
D
dogdays Offline
I Live Here
dogdays  Offline
I Live Here
D

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,376
Lots of BS floating around here.

This amplifier is Class D which means at max output its efficiency can be 90%. To get 250 watts from 14.4 volts requires 17.4 amps. Dividing by 0.9 gives 19.3 amps. But let's consider voltage drop from battery to amp and guess it at 1.5 volts, now flat out the amp should draw 22 amps. That should be the max. Volume set on 10. For everyday driving the average power used should be more like 1 watt to get 90db, 2 watts to get 93db, 10 watts to get 100 db, 100 to get 110db. I think the calculations are right. Twice the power increases by 3 db, 10 x the power increases by 10.

So the maximum amp draw should always be less than 22 amps.

The minimum wire size suggested by kicker from battery to amp is 8 gauge. I'd agree bigger is better.

The amp will use your high level output, like a speaker level output, to get the signal. Or they will take line level (preamp level).

I'd say the system will work in your car as long as you aren't entering any sound level competitions. If you have added any extra power drawing things like electric fans you may need a 65amp alternator, otherwise you're probably all right. I'd run both positive and negative wires from the battery to the amp and put it closer to the front like the package shelf rather than in the back of the trunk. Make sure you use fuses.

I'd hold off on capacitors until I found a need. This forum is full of people who love to spend other people's money. They make only the best suggestions about ideal installations or equipment. On their own they might choose much less expensive gear.

R.

Re: Would this subwoofer and amp work on my b body? [Re: Luis Zavala] #2614793
01/30/19 10:28 PM
01/30/19 10:28 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
MidPenMopar Offline
Looking for fun? Keep looking
MidPenMopar  Offline
Looking for fun? Keep looking

Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840
South San Francisco, Californi...
I have a cool subwoofer and amplifier in my road runner that works with no modifications and i can pull it out when i need more room. Let me know if you want to see photos of it?
Stu

Re: Would this subwoofer and amp work on my b body? [Re: MidPenMopar] #2614827
01/30/19 11:42 PM
01/30/19 11:42 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,095
Western Md.
skicker Offline
"The Champ"
skicker  Offline
"The Champ"

Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,095
Western Md.
I went back and looked at the link and the equipment again...Nothing to it and fairly low-line stuff. I doubt it will have enough a$$ to require anything super heavy duty as far as wiring...It would have a little more effect if the box was sealed and not ported... twocents
In the end it's all in what you want...


...FAFO...






Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1