Description

This article is from the Car Audio FAQ, by Ian D. Bjorhovde (ianbjor@mobileaudio.com) with numerous contributions by others.

2.5 I heard that I should run my power wire directly to my car's battery. Why should I bother, and how do I do it? [JSC]

For some components, like head units and equalizers, it's acceptable to
use the stock wiring for power. However, amplifiers generally require
large amounts of power, and accordingly will draw large amounts of
current. The factory wiring in most cars is not designed to handle
large amounts of current, and most wires have 10-20A fuses on them.
Thus, you will almost always want to run the power line for your
amplifier directly to the positive terminal of the battery. This could
require drilling a hole through the car's firewall, or at least
spending time hunting for an existing hole (the steering column is a
good place to start looking). Always remember to place a fuse on your
wire as near to the battery as possible! For various reasons, such as
an accident or simple wear and tear, your wire's insulation may
eventually crack, which could allow the conducting wire to make contact
with the chassis of the car and short the battery through this wire,
which could lead to a serious fire. The closer you place a fuse to the
battery, the more protected you are. Also, when running wire through
areas with sharp metal corners, it is a good idea to use rubber
grommets to provide extra protection against tearing through your
wire's insulation.

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