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rca cables damaging amp?

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=111523
Printed Date: July 20, 2025 at 9:38 AM


Topic: rca cables damaging amp?

Posted By: playaslaya
Subject: rca cables damaging amp?
Date Posted: February 12, 2009 at 1:24 AM

Is it true that on initial setup, connecting the RCA cables before the power and ground cables on the amp can result in damgae to the amp, and just what kind of damage can it cause?



Replies:

Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: February 12, 2009 at 6:21 AM

It is true on some amplifiers and of course Poineer radios.  Kicker has the same fuse in some of their amps.  The same fuse that Pioneer puts in the shield path of their RCA cables.   

But of course if you follow the FIrst Rule of any automotive install,  Disconnect the battery before performing any work on your system, you will be fine. 

If you connect power and RCA before you connect the ground, that is where the problem comes to play.  As soon as you connect the power wire to the amp, it begins looking for ground.  If you plug the RCA cable in, it says hey there's a ground.  And it then blows the fuse.  If the ground were connected prior to the RCA cable, it would ground through the ground wire.


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