Help with a Factory Sub Install

[mbellis]

Hey guys, just recently purchasd a 2012 2SS/RS IBM Coupe with BA Audio, I purchased the factory subwoofer kit from a Chevy Dealer and a buddy of mine installed it over the weekend, unfortunately he drilled the holes that take the rivnuts too large and now they won't hold, anyone know where I can purchase an extra rivnut kit? Also the wiring harness didn't have a fuse installed, can anyone advise what size fuse the wiring harness takes? Thanks in advance for your help!

[CWI]

Originally Posted by mbellis

Hey guys, just recently purchasd a 2012 2SS/RS IBM Coupe with BA Audio, I purchased the factory subwoofer kit from a Chevy Dealer and a buddy of mine installed it over the weekend, unfortunately he drilled the holes that take the rivnuts too large and now they won't hold, anyone know where I can purchase an extra rivnut kit? Also the wiring harness didn't have a fuse installed, can anyone advise what size fuse the wiring harness takes? Thanks in advance for your help!

Harness? If you're taling about the the power cable, match it to the total amps of the fuses on the amplifier. If you are talking about the remote turn on wire, I think most people go 1 amp fuse on that.

[mbellis]

Originally Posted by CWIweldace

Harness? If you're taling about the the power cable, match it to the total amps of the fuses on the amplifier. If you are talking about the remote turn on wire, I think most people go 1 amp fuse on that.

Right after the wiring harness connects to the battery there is a fuse holder, nothing notated in the instructions what size fuse to go with??

[CWI]

Originally Posted by mbellis

Right after the wiring harness connects to the battery there is a fuse holder, nothing notated in the instructions what size fuse to go with??

OK. Your main power cable from the battery to the amp should have a fuse inline approximately 12 to 18 inches from the battery. This should be equivelent to the total of the fuses in the amp. The fuses in the amp are to protect the amp. This fuse is to protect the rest of your system and your car in the event of a short circuit.

Here is a link that will tell you all you need to know about fusing your system.

http://www.caraudiohelp.com/newsletter/fuse_size.htm

[EATIT]

I dont remember what size it was but, with a 200 watt amplifier which it has and the size wire they use, i would think a 50 watt fuse would be ok, I run a 150 watt fuse on my system and its 2 gauge wire with 800 watts

[CWI]

To give you an idea of what most people do with high end systems, this is what I did. It may be a bit redundent but very well protected. I ran 1/0 gauge wire from the battery to a distribution block, then 4 gauge wire to each of three amps. Two amps have 4, 25 watt fuses totalling 100 amps, I actually went on the safe side here and used an 80 amp fuse in the distribution block for both of these amps. I would rather replace one fuse than all 4 fuses in the amp.

The other amp has 2, 30 amp fuses so I use a 50 amp fuse in the distribution block for that amp for the same reason as above. The distribution block also has a main fuse, for that I use a 150 amp fuse. It would be rare that all 3 amps would draw enough power at the same time to blow this fuse before one of the downstream fuses blow. Finally, I also have a main fuse 12 inches from the battery, again 150 amp. Should there ever be a short in this main power supply, you want the fuse to go, not your car.

Consider this, I have been in welding related trades for over 30 years. The most heavy duty welding I did was a high production welding process called 'submerged arc'. It is actually a controlled short circuit process. I ran the machine as high as 38 volts DC and over 600 amps burning 1/8 in diameter continuous feed wire. This a very hot weld process with a high deposition rate. The arc is in the neighborhood of 10,000 degrees. Your battery may be 800 or more amps, it can easily cause an arc at thousands of degrees, very capable of starting a fire.

As a last resort, I also maintain an ABC type fire extinguisher in my vehicles.

[CWI]

Originally Posted by EATIT

I dont remember what size it was but, with a 200 watt amplifier which it has and the size wire they use, i would think a 50 watt fuse would be ok, I run a 150 watt fuse on my system and its 2 gauge wire with 800 watts

For 800 watts, i would think 50 may be good if not a bit to big. I have ran a 1000 watt RMS amp with a 30 amp fuse pushing 2, 10" subs. If I remember correct I blew them a couple times and changed it to 40 and never had another problem. They are not expensive as the equipment they protect, don't be afraid to experiment and learn.

If you go too big, it's possible to have a problem before the fuse blows.

[CWI]

BTW, welcome to C5!!

[EATIT]

from what I have read, and been told, the fuse size on the amp is not how you judge the fuse at the battery, you want to size the fuse according to the wire size, just for a little proof, the wire kit i bought, JL audio, dual amp wire kit, 2 gauge wire, they give you a fuse that is in line and about 18 inches from the battery, fuse size is 150 , so thats why i said he should go with a 50 amp fuse at the battery, I am positive it was not lower then 50 on that gm sub kit, I had it, just my opinion