Power for headunit

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T.Hill

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Joined: February 21, 2003

Location: Missouri, United States

Posted: February 10, 2005 at 3:11 PM / IP Logged

I couldn't find anything by searching so here goes. Is there anything I need to know about running a dedicated power wire to the headunit? Like wire size and fuse rating? I don't know if I am actually going to do this, but I just wanted to know how to do it just in case. I understand that some HU's need a separate power supply do to their internal amp like the Panasonic CQ-C9901U with that Tripath digital chip in it. Thanks guys.

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aerodude31484

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Joined: March 11, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: February 10, 2005 at 3:39 PM / IP Logged

If you are running a dedicated wire to the HU, I would recommend using 18 guage wire. As long as your deck has inline fuses coming off the stock harness then you won't have to worry about that but you might want to put an inline fuse right at your start point just in case it does ground out to something. Is there any particular reason that you are looking into the dedicated wire?

DYohn

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Joined: April 22, 2003

Location: Arizona, United States

Posted: February 10, 2005 at 3:51 PM / IP Logged

I would not recomend 18 gage. 18 gage is good for 10-12 amps. What is the amperage rating on this HU? Choose your wire gage according to the maximum draw the HU needs, and fuse it as close as possible to the source (the battery) to protect the wire.

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aerodude31484

Member - Posts: 27

Joined: March 11, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: February 10, 2005 at 4:01 PM / IP Logged

Well considering that a stock harness usually uses about an 18-20 gauge, I think that it is pretty safe to use 18. Maybe 16 at the heaviest. You figure that an aftermarket deck usually runs about a 1.5 amp fuse inline, anything over that gauge would be overkill. Just my opinion though.

DYohn

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Joined: April 22, 2003

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Posted: February 10, 2005 at 4:16 PM / IP Logged

A non-powered head will only draw 1.5 amps, maybe. I suspect the Panasonic in this question can draw up to 20 to 25 amps. Only 20 to 25 for the class T amplifier at 280 watts total output since it is very efficient, and the power rating on this head is real. Your point that many OEM wiring harnesses only support 18 to 20 AWG is correct, and is why high-power head units require a seperate power supply from the battery.

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aerodude31484

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Joined: March 11, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: February 10, 2005 at 4:20 PM / IP Logged

Oh, I see what you are talking about now. I was going on the sense that T.Hill was talking about just a standard deck, and the Panasonic was one of those what if things. Well in that case scenario I most definately agree with you about the seperate power source.

DYohn

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Posted: February 10, 2005 at 5:14 PM / IP Logged

... and don't forget to upgrade your ground as well.

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T.Hill

Copper - Posts: 268

Joined: February 21, 2003

Location: Missouri, United States

Posted: February 11, 2005 at 9:15 AM / IP Logged

The HU I'm going to use will be the Eclipse 8454 which says it's current drain is 3A. Mainly just two reasons I'm thinking about doing this: 1: overkill 2: I drive a 2000 Landrover Discovery which has a history of bad wiring. So anything that I add to it I want to use brand new aftermarket wiring that way I know where the wire is run. Plus it will be a lot less likely to have a problem with it. So going by the chart above, 16awg power/ground wire will be good to go? And do I keep the fuse right at 3A?

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aerodude31484

Member - Posts: 27

Joined: March 11, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: February 11, 2005 at 10:45 AM / IP Logged

I wouldn't upgrade the deck fuses, those are put there for a reason and changing might damage the deck if there would be a short. As far as the wiring goes, 16 awg would be great but also 18 would work too. It is really your call. Make sure you get yourself a good ground and that your switched 12v circuit can handle the drain. Let me know if you have any other questions.

-Austin

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Power for headunit

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