Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 12:37:42 -0700
Reply-To: Rocket J Squirrel <j.michael.elliott@ADELPHIA.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Rocket J Squirrel <j.michael.elliott@ADELPHIA.NET>
Subject: Re: Stereo/Subwoofer Installation
In-Reply-To: <82A68B74-F600-11D8-9B38-000A95675B5A@craftedearth.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Hi Eric,
I just installed a sub. I found an inexpensive 10'' car subwoofer driver
at a local Best Buys and mounted it in the rear seat box. I put a grille
from crutchfield.com over it so the kids would not kick it. Also from
Best Buys I got an "open carton" MOSFET amp rated at something silly
like 350 watts in bridge mode for $49 or something reasonable. Mounted
that on the floor of the box. I installed a wood cover over the amp so
camping gear and tire jacks would not rip the wires loose. The +12V wire
I pulled through a hole from the engine compartment, from the starter. I
used some 8-gauge wire, heavily jacketed, and I grommeted the hole that
the wire passes through into the seat box. I used a good ring lug with a
star lockwasher to the chassis for ground return. This amp has a on/off
line that I wired to the radio/CD changer's remote amp on/off line so
that when the radio is turned on, the sub amp comes on, too. I also
stuck a toggle switch on that line so that the wire from the sub amp
could be either connected to the radio's remote amp on/off line, or to
chassis, so that I can manually turn off the sub amp if I am camping and
want to reduce current consumption to the minimum. The box and woofer
seemed to match up pretty well -- bottom end is deep, pretty tight and
powerful enough to be hear even while driving. I needed to put some
rubber gasketing on top of the front lip of the seat box to create a
nice seal that does not vibrate and rattle with every note. All in all
it worked out very nicely. Now I pick the kids up at school with the
radio set to a hip-hop station noted for it's boom-de-boom bass, turn it
up pretty loud, so I sound like some ricer kid, and thoroughly embarrass
the kids. For some reason, that makes it all worthwhile.
--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 VW Type 2 / 84 Westy: A poor but proud race.
KG6RCR
Eric Spletzer wrote:
> Hey all -
>
> I've got a good alpine system installed in my van, but 4 4" speakers
> are just not cutting it for me. Is there a tried and true method for
> adding a subwoofer, amp, etc?
>
> I've pillaged 2 150 Watt amps and a couple 4" pioneers from my buddy's
> beamer. Will these amps suffice if I pick up a subwoofer? I'm not
> looking
> to blow the doors off, just to hear the bass.
>
> I'm thinking to put the subwoofer in the cabinet under the seat?
>
> Thanks for any advice/pictures/horror stories about previous setups.
>
> -eric
>
>
> -------------
> '85 GL Camper (Moby)
> San Francisco, CA
>
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