[andjayik]

Want to hook up a amp to my factory deck and would like to know if there is rca ports for a amp?

 

[kkreit01]

No -- no factory deck that I have heard of has such. You'll need a LOC for best results. Most amps have speaker inputs, but typically LOCs work best.

 

[andjayik]

I am putting in component speakers and want a amp to run them, Ive seen loc that say only 80 watts. I want full power going to these babies.

 

[fourthmeal]

80W as in that is the max that can be inputted into the LOC. Considering the stock HU puts out about 12W, you are fine. Once it is sent out via RCA, you can amplify it as much as you want.

80W is as much as the LOC can dissipate from the head unit. You'll never reach 80W with the stock radio.

 

[andjayik]

so a line level adapter is the same thing? And i would need one for sure? The amp will be putting out at least 85w per side. Breensy and i are going to install everything and i wanted to make sure i have everything and what i needed eith a stock deck, speakers and a amp.

 

[fourthmeal]

It doesn't matter what the amp is doing. The LOC is sending a signal to the amp, not power. The LOC can only take so much power from the head unit before it clips or damages itself, which is the 80W limit.

You still haven't read the basics that I asked you to learn about,

http://www.bcae1.com

Which is why this is not making sense.

 

[andjayik]

Cool, i will have to pick one up.

 

[andjayik]

Gonna pick up a line level adaptor, where would i plug the remote wire from the amp?

 

[gmercedesbenz]

Gonna pick up a line level adaptor, where would i plug the remote wire from the amp?

That's the tricky part....last time I did the LOC before I finally broke down and replaced my deck.....I had to find a switched 12v by taking my multimeter and testing wires. ;-| Finally after having no luck finding one I just ran a 12 volt wire straight from my fuse box as a "turn-on" wire. I think that would be the way to go, this way you know exactly what your tapping into...

 

[andjayik]

i see so when u turn the key the amp comes on.

 

[gmercedesbenz]

i see so when u turn the key the amp comes on.

Exactly, it's just a 12 volt power cable that only is on when the vehicle is on, so that your amp doesn't stay powered on after you shut your car off. I've heard of people using many different wires as sources, but I never had any luck finding a soild one, so I went straight to the fuse box. Aftermarket decks have this wire built right into the deck, so you can have the amp turn on and off with the deck rather then the car.

 

[andjayik]

Thanks!! :beer:

 

[andjayik]

Actually but a line level adapter with the remote wire in it!

 

[fourthmeal]

Watch this, because it can cause your speakers to "thump" if the amp turns on before the head unit, or if the amp turns off after the head unit.

My processor reads line signal from the head unit and turns the amps on for me. But I imagine that it is a total PITA to find a 12V switched lead these days in the back of the head unit. They just don't use that anymore on these new decks.

 

[gmercedesbenz]

...They just don't use that anymore on these new decks.

Exactly its all databus impulse controlled now....and subsituting a new deck in is getting more and more intresting as the models get newer and newer... :wall:

 

[fourthmeal]

...They just don't use that anymore on these new decks.

Exactly its all databus impulse controlled now....and subsituting a new deck in is getting more and more intresting as the models get newer and newer... :wall:

Yep! Which sux because I have a Pioneer F900BT DVD nav unit sitting here waiting for install (as soon as I get my replacement dash part to fit it)

And when that comes in, I then have to figure out a way to get a 12V signal to the deck. And I hate using the fuse panel.

 

[Squishy]

In the earlier Escapes, the cigarette lighter plug (not the accessory outlet) was switched by the ignition.

 

[RyanRage]

In the earlier Escapes, the cigarette lighter plug (not the accessory outlet) was switched by the ignition.

Really?? There's something I never knew before.

 

[Squishy]

I think it holds true up to 2007, and I'm not sure how the 2008+ outlets behave.