Car amplifiers provide plenty of power in a relatively small package. They'd be excellent for use in home systems, except that they require a 12-volt power source, not household 120-volt current. But there's a way to get around that obstacle and power up your home speakers with a car amplifier.
Instructions
1. Cut a 2-foot length of 8-gauge power cable with wire cutters. Remove about 1 inch of insulation from each end of the cable.
2. Cut a 2-foot length of ground cable and prepare the ends of the wire in the same way as Step 1. Cut a 2-foot length of thin insulated wire (18-gauge is sufficient) and remove 1 inch of the insulation from both ends of the wire.
3. Crimp a ring terminal on one end of the amplifier ground cable by sliding a terminal over the end of the wire and crimping it with a crimping tool.
4. Wrap the bare end of the thin insulated wire around one end of the power cable. Crimp a ring terminal over the ends of both wires.
5. Loosen the set screws for the power terminal of the amplifier. Use an Allen wrench or a screwdriver, depending on the brand and model of amp. Put the end of the power cable that is still bare wire into the opening and tighten the connection securely.
6. Loosen the set screw for the remote lead. This will be labeled "Remote." Slide the end of the thin insulated wire into the opening and tighten the screw.
7. Loosen the set screw for the negative terminal of the amp. It'll be next to the power connection. Put the ground wire into the opening and tighten.
8. Take the nuts off the power and ground connections for your power converter; they can be removed with your fingers. Put the ring terminal of the positive cable onto the positive post, and the negative cable onto the negative post. Put the nuts back onto the power supply.
9. Plug your power supply into a 120-volt outlet and then turn the power switch on. This will turn the amplifier on, and it is ready for use.
Tags: 2-foot length, insulated wire, into opening, into opening tighten, opening tighten