Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry
A short while ago, while testing an amplifier's maximum power output, we observed how significantly the power increased with higher supply voltage. This observation made us realize that we’ve never thoroughly examined the relationship between a vehicle's battery voltage and a car audio amplifier's maximum power output. It’s time to address that. Why Does Battery Voltage Matter Read more
If you’ve looked at an amplifier installation kit, you’ll see it comes with about 17 feet of power wire, a shorter length of ground wire and a fuse holder. The intent of this fuse holder is for it to be installed as close as possible to the positive battery terminal. As for the fuse size, should it be the same as the fuse in your amplifier? Likely not. Read on to learn Read more
We recently witnessed a discussion on social media in which someone said that two 16 AWG wires could do the same work as a single 8 AWG wire. Unfortunately, the American Wire Gauge standard for stranded conductors isn’t intuitive in helping determine how multiple conductors can pass current. So let’s get geeky and do the math on how much current different-sized or multiple Read more
In the 1980s, most car stereo shops had charts in the install bays that showed what size power wire should be used with different amplifiers. Some charts were based on current and cable length, while others suggested amplifier power ratings and lengths. In all cases, an essential piece of information was missing. Today, we’ll sort that out. Let’s consider why we need large Read more
Once again, we approach a discussion of the laws of physics and how they affect the electrical systems in our cars and trucks. The enemy of all power transmission systems, be it the battery and alternator to the amplifier in your vehicle or the nuclear power station or hydroelectric dam across the state to your home, is resistance. I saw a power wire sizing chart earlier this Read more
Every few months, I learn something that, had I put some effort into thinking about it, would have been obvious. For example, my friend Andy created a Facebook post a while back, asking why people thought amplifiers needed fuses. They will tell you it’s to protect the amp from damage. That’s not incorrect. However, the scenario where fuses are necessary is very different from Read more
Efficiency is defined as the ratio of the power or work consumed by a system compared to the work done by that system. In the car audio industry, we typically talk about efficiency in the context of amplifiers. The best amplifiers consume only a little more power than they provide to a speaker or subwoofer. Low-quality solutions consume extra power and convert that into heat. I Read more
When it comes to ensuring that your car audio amplifier is making the most power possible, nothing is more important than properly sized, high-quality power wire. Can an amplifier produce 2,000 watts of power if fed with 4 AWG wire? What factors affect the size and quality of wire needed for an audio system? There’s a lot of confusion around wiring, so let’s look at some Read more
In late September, I got a call from a friend asking if I had any connections to purchase some new fuse holders for his car. The car is a fourth-generation Toyota Supra with a single-turbo kit and an AEM stand-alone engine management system. Unfortunately, it seems the fuse holders that fed the dual Walbro 255 lph fuel pumps had failed, leaving my friend stranded on the side of Read more
