I recently bought a kenwood ksc-sw11 sub to install under the seat and the instructional diagram shows to attach the power wire to the interior car fuse instead of directly to the battery. I've done a subwoofer installation before but it was more powerful with 250 watts rms so i connected it directly to the battery. This small sub is powered(has amp inside) with an RMS of 75 watts and max power of 150 watts. The power cable is quite small (14 gauge) and already has a fuse at the end rated at 10 amps. My question is...

#1: can i attach this to one of the auxillary 12 volt outlet fuses using an Add a fuse/circuit without anything bad happening to the fuse block?

The 12 volt power outlets are rated at 120 watts according to nissan's owners manual, however, the fuse leading to them is rated at 20 amps which means they wouldn't blow until around 240 watts. If I attach the subwoofer power wire to that fuse, theoretically, the 10 amp would blow before the 20 amp which means the fuse block should stay safe?

#2: I haven't looked myself yet, but are there any spare fuses that aren't used in the interior fuse box that are still powered that i can use for this install?

 

1. Technically yes, you can and it will work fine for the most part. If you turn it up too loud and it happens to draw more power than the fuse at the fuse box is rated for then it blows and it can be replaced. But personally I wouldn't put that kind of strain on factory wiring that I may or may not be able to reach to replace if worse came to worse and the actual wiring behind the fuse was damaged.

I recommend running the small wire straight from the battery for the sake of the sub and your electrical. If the sub's amp is starving for power and it can't pull any more then it will begin to distort and shorten the overall life of the amp and possibly the sub.

2. I don't know of any other useful fuse spots that may be used, if you have an SV there may be a spot for the heated seats that's prewired, though I'm not too sure what amperage that fuse would be, but I imagine it would be in the 20A - 30A range.

 

How did fit it under the seat ? Theres no room in there

 

Its a very compact sub. Dimensions are 11 x 7.5 x 2.75 in. This is pretty much the only compact sub that i found that would fit underneath the seat and it seems to have positive reviews.

What i noticed with the stock system is that since the woofers are in the rear deck lid, i have to turn up the volume to get a decent amount of bass up front. But the passengers in the back are hearing lots of bass and its a little bit too booomy. Hopefully, when i install this under the front seat, i won't have to turn up the volume as much and the bass will be tighter/punchier.

 

u sure it fits in there ? can u take pics

 

Thanks for your input escblads. I just wanted a second opinion before i went ahead with the install. Since this is a pretty weak sub and i don't plan on blasting it, i think i'm going to go with the easier install and hook it up to the fuse box. I feel like if i poked around the rubber grommet with a sharp coat hanger, i might do more damage.

 

Sub


sliding it underneath passenger seat


This is with the sub as far back as it will go. The only reason you still see it is because of the angle i took the picture at. If you were sitting in the rear passenger seat you would not notice it. Did not try underneath the drivers seat but i'm sure its similar.

 

Wow ok cool I gotta try that

 

2012maximaS, can you please report back on how well this subwoofer works?


I am NOT looking at loud, competition, obnoxious sounds as I'm 40 years old (I used to be into loud car stereo back in the early 90s, not anymore).

 

With a 10amp inline fuse, you are fine to tie into the fuse block.

Based on electricity laws, 10amp x 14.4 volts = 144 watts max. Seeing as out electrical system is closer to 12 volts, 120 watts max is more likely.
Unless you have everything turned all the way up, you are really going to see 40-50w out of this system.

 

I ended up removing this subwoofer...it didn't work very well and IMO, made the sound quality worse when you turned it up(too much distortion at lower frequencies).