amp power wire
 

here goes.. when you wire your amp directly to your battery this mean it's always "on right? i just bought an amp wiring kit.. and i was just thinking.. when i turn the engine off and switch the lights on it still works... yeah that's no problem.. but there is no switch for my amp.. what did you guys do about this.. i'm sorry if this is a repeat question i tried to search but i couldn't find anything

Connected to the amp is also a turn on lead. it connects to the Headunit.. when the headunit powers up, it sends voltage to the amplifier through a smaller wire, usually a blue turn on lead and that signal turns on the amplifier.

well yes if you a wire straight thru the battery it always going to be on, but there a remote turn on wire for the amp, it seem like your remote turn on wire is on a constant 12v, make sure the remote wire is on the right wire, usually the wire is blue/white on your deck. or u can just add a toggle switch on the remote wire, u can turn on and off any time u want with a switch

so that's what the blue wire in my kit is for!!:_doh:

another question... where do i connect this wire to the hu? i didn't quite get it.. do i connect it to the harness? which part... thanks again!

There should be a wire for it to connect to on teh harness, probably labels "Remote" somethign or another, Also, you can connect it to any other line that powers up when you turn teh car on, like the "ACC" wire, or even the cigarette lighter wire.

how small can this wire be? i used an 18 gauge wire and am not sure if it's thick enough...

ok.. thanks.. can i still use my cigarette lighter if i connect it there? if so how do i do this...

If you have an aftermarket head unit there will be a blue wire marked "amp turn on" or something similar. dont use the "power ant" wire unless it is the only one there. If its a true power ant output it will turn off when you put a cd in and your amp will turn off also. so check it with a test light or voltmeter. if you hace a factory deck what you need is a test light to find what wire in the harness is your 12 volt switched. clip the ground clip to a good ground and with the key in the ON position touch the harness pins..two will light up. remember thise two. now turn the key off. go back to those two wire and only one should light up...the one that does is your constant power. It holds memory to your deck so your presets dont go away when you turn the car off. the other is your 12 volt accessory. this tells your radio to turn on only when the key is on. test they by leaving the test light on that pin and turning the key back on....ohhhhhhhhh...light show..the light will go on and off with the key...use a t-tap or butt connector or bell cap or cut and solder into that wire with your remote wire. 18 guage will be fine..there is only about a half an amp going down this wire. also refer to this chart i dont know if what they list is in the deck harness or not...it might not be because its alarm wiring.....i will check tomorrow on my wifes car since this wire color has been in question quite a few times.