I just installed Rockford Fanatic Q, HPC2206, and 10" Punch Z speakers in my '97 Max. I am keeping the factory HU (non-Bose) for now. I wired the amp turn-on to the blue wire (hot when car is in AC and Run modes) on my HU. I would like to know if there is a way to wire the amp so that it is only on when the HU is on? If there is, which wire is it?

Also, I noticed that when the amp is powered on and I turn on my headlights, the RPMs drop slightly? How do I fix this?

Thanks

 

Our Max's do not have a factory remote turn-on in the radio harness. They are only operational by the aftermarket headunits. The reason why your headlights dim and decrease in RPM's is because your amp is eating up a lot of juice powering from the power wire in the radio harness. This power wire in the radio harness is only limited to handle a small amount of current, like powering the headunit. You should never exceed this connected to a high power amperage unit, such as your amp. But, in your case, though, there is an actual way in connecting an amp to power on with a non-aftermarket headunit. You must install a 4-pin relay to the power antenna lead on the radio harness (black with red tracer, I believe). From the relay, connect the power antenna lead to terminal 85, the remote turn-on wire from amp to terminal 87, +12V constant to terminal 30, and ground to terminal 86. This way, you can safely remotely turn on any additional accessories to your system from the headunit. Also, one thing to note, too....if you want to add on additional units to this powering scheme, install a "distribution block" to terminal 87 and hook up all your units there. I hope this information helped any.

 

Thanks for the help...I will give it a try.

Where is best source for the +12v constant? Can I use the power wire in my HU harness?

 

Yeah, you can tap into there for your constant. Just make sure you fuse it to be safe.

 

12v constant for what purpose? To power your amp? More info and I am sure that we can help you.

 

Currently my amp's turn on wire is connected to the blue power wire in my HU (stock non-bose) harness (that wire is hot only when car is in AC or Run mode). When I add a 4-pin relay to the mix is that blue power wire the best source for +12v power? Ideally I would like my amp only to be powered when the HU is on. I also am planning on adding a toggle switch to the turn on wire so I can turn the amp off but still listen to music.

 

So are you using this to POWER-ON your amp, or to provide POWER TO your amp? I know that stinger used to make (and may still make) a unit for about $20 that would send a turn-on signal to your amp. Uou wired it inline with speaker-level signal, and when the unit sensed speaker signal, it would send a 12v turn-on signal to amps to power them up. Is this what you are looking for?

 

Power is run from the + terminal on the battery, the line from the HU is to turn the amp on. The stinger product might be what I need...I will check on it.

 

I think that that might be a good option for you, because w/o a power antenna that is on when the stereo is on (and not just the radio/tuner), there is no good 12v turn-on signal. I am 99% sure it was stinger that made that unit. Check sounddomain and the stinger website for more info.