View Full Version : Need a cunning place to mount an amp
The problem lies with my dad. Again :x
He puts lawn mowers and loads of other s*ite in the back of the car with the back seats folded down. This happens fairly regularly because we share the car and he needs to do this for work.
I want an amp. (alpine 4ch jobbie :D )
Therfore i need to mount it out of the way so it doesnt get marked up or damaged.
I know there are very limited options but any sugestions are welcome.
The sub box is not a proble becasue this can be easily moved around, as i do with the active sub i currently have.
Any ideas ?
partridge_88
04-12-2006, 13:28
under the passenger seat?
that was my first idea. but what about cooling? And also the wiring might be a bit of a pain?
hi,
if you have a square sub box, cant you screw it to the back of it. I did. Then when you shift the sub, The amp goes with it, but all depend on the size and shape of the sub and the box
i dont really want to do that cos it will shake the amp to pieces. I dont want to break a £279 amp :lol: !!!
i dont really want to do that cos it will shake the amp to pieces. I dont want to break a £279 amp :lol: !!!
live a little. Nah, just kidding. i'll keep finking and ask round for ya
scott_gibson
04-12-2006, 14:05
i dont really want to do that cos it will shake the amp to pieces. I dont want to break a £279 amp :lol: !!!
i had my rockford amp screwed to the back of the box in my ols car for a good few years and it still worked fine. dont think it'll shake it to bits, think of how much the car vibrates with bass anyway and most people have there subs and amps close together in the boot anyway....
just a thought...
Thats true mate. And i suppose they wouldnt make active subs if this happened badly.
But...
There will still be a lot of wires going into the amp {+ve, -ve, rem, 3 lots of speaker wires, 2 remote cables} and thats a lot to move about. Would be a lot easier to more a sub box with one speaker cable going into it :(
scott_gibson
04-12-2006, 14:22
never thought of that, mine was just the power cable and RCA's i have to unplug to move it about.....
hmmm how about one of those stealth amp rack things that goes in the side of your boot behind a pespex window if you get what i mean?
then your amp is protected and you dont have to worry bout moving it cos its taking up no room??
yeah i thought about making one of those myself, but im sure it would stick out a bit, and if its covered in perspex, cooling is going to be an issue again :(
Got any pics of anyone who has done it ?
Also if i buy one of the stealth amp racks im sure they are quite expensive too :(
scott_gibson
04-12-2006, 15:17
sure cooling wont be that much of an issue,
you could always put a few slots in it with a fan if your making it yourself.
far as i know they sit flush to the side so wont stick out.
i know some people on here have them but cant remember who tho.
theres a massive thread somewhere with pictures of peoples ice installs somewhere, may be worth searching for that?
matt clarke
04-12-2006, 15:45
queue the blackadder quotes...
andym765
04-12-2006, 18:06
Would the amp be to big to fit in the spare tyre well :? if it is build a false floor and put a couple of fans in it. Its pretty easy to make amp racks just need a relay for the the fans and a distribution block if you need more than one fan
Would the amp be to big to fit in the spare tyre well :? if it is build a false floor and put a couple of fans in it. Its pretty easy to make amp racks just need a relay for the the fans and a distribution block if you need more than one fan
a relay...? amps draw about as much power as a fart. a simple switched live will suffice. as for a dizzy block, you could just twist wires together as no fuse is needed. :thumbs:
bit of a long shot but could you not mount it in the glove box??
andym765
04-12-2006, 18:27
a relay...? amps draw about as much power as a fart. a simple switched live will suffice. as for a dizzy block, you could just twist wires together as no fuse is needed. :thumbs:
You mean connect both the fans to the remote turn on lead? wont the fans draw to much power? and yeah a dizzy is a bit much for two fans im just going by what my friend done he had a couple of neons aswell.
Screw it upside down to the seat subframe!
You mean connect both the fans to the remote turn on lead? wont the fans draw to much power? and yeah a dizzy is a bit much for two fans im just going by what my friend done he had a couple of neons aswell.
no... i mean a "switched live" mate. i wouldnt want to compramise my amp for the sake of an extra wire.
Take it from your fag lighter, or run a cable from your batt to the rear and pop alittle 50p switch in from halfrauds.
Screw it upside down to the seat subframe!
wow. what ever you do, dont do that. it is the worst thing you can do to an amp, having it upside down. reduces life of amp by 80%. thats impressive.
lol whys that then? I would have thought it made a difference?
craigSXi
04-12-2006, 22:59
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/C4_PRK/DSCF0061.jpg
just build an amp rack into this side of the boot since it's wasted space anyway. i done it like this so i can still use my boot and fold the seats down to fit stuff in. best compromise. plus you can take the sub out and its just a case of disconnecting 2 wires
lol whys that then? I would have thought it made a difference?
hot air rises. you want air to escape from the amp, rising up and away from the parts. upside dow, it has no where to go except back into its self... so it slowy frys...
a bit like lighting a candle, then turning it upside down, it lasts minutes instead oh hours ;)
Ollie SXi
04-12-2006, 23:24
Could make a decent boot install (false floor), orrrr remove the rear quater panel of the rear seats (under the window), there is a massive empty space there. Only thing would be that the amp would be on its side, which as martin said this can totally reduce your amps power or maybe worst... some amps can be installed on their sides though, but i dont know how you would find this out before reading the instructions.
just build an amp rack into this side of the boot since it's wasted space anyway. i done it like this so i can still use my boot and fold the seats down to fit stuff in. best compromise. plus you can take the sub out and its just a case of disconnecting 2 wires
That looks like a good idea, any guidelines on how to make one of those ? What do you screw / fix it too?
Will it be alright on its side if i get a couple of pc fans in there to cool it ?
andym765
05-12-2006, 13:07
You would probs just need to get some velcro to hold it in place it should be fine on its side if your really stuck i can always helps you make the amp rack but youd have to make your way to hemel lol :thumbs:
kk mate cheers, ill probs hav a go myself first, and if im **** then ill come visit ya :lol:
andym765
05-12-2006, 13:21
ok then should be easy enough to do.
o and make sure one fan is pushing air in and the other pulling it out heard that was the most effective way of using the fans :)
SimonRobo22
05-12-2006, 13:29
What about some kinda roof mounted jobbie, would look cool if dun correctly!!!!
ok then should be easy enough to do.
o and make sure one fan is pushing air in and the other pulling it out heard that was the most effective way of using the fans :)
Yup am planning on doing that :thumbs: ;) Cheers.
What about some kinda roof mounted jobbie, would look cool if dun correctly!!!!
Hmmmm.... nice idea, but the roof isint the strongest of places and i dont think it would really suit the style of my car. Cheers anyway mate
Jameshs_SRI
05-12-2006, 13:59
hot air rises. you want air to escape from the amp, rising up and away from the parts. upside dow, it has no where to go except back into its self... so it slowy frys...
a bit like lighting a candle, then turning it upside down, it lasts minutes instead oh hours ;)
I kinda find that hard to believe
Any more tips for building an amp rack on the side of my boot? I think this is what im going to do
steviecorsa
05-12-2006, 18:01
i know some 1 who put his amp behind the rear door cars made a amp rack and put the door card back over its good if your not bothered about seeing the amp needs a cold air feed or a mg were i got my alarm fitted was having them mounted on the roof that looked sweet
I kinda find that hard to believe
search for an online rockford fosgate amp manual :thumbs:
search for an online rockford fosgate amp manual :thumbs:
you got any tips on making an amp rack mate ?
Ollie SXi
06-12-2006, 00:12
you got any tips on making an amp rack mate ?
Pay martin to make you one :yippe:
I wanna make it myself!!! i like building stuff :P
more satisfying that way :lol:
make an ENORMOUS spoiler....
mount it in there...cut a few holes in the spoiler excellent cooling and nobody would know any different...
Ollie SXi
06-12-2006, 08:50
make an ENORMOUS spoiler....
mount it in there...cut a few holes in the spoiler excellent cooling and nobody would know any different...
Youve been eating too many fish fingers! Never trust an old hairy man with fishy fingers
If you do build a new storage box it may b an idea to cut a few ventialtion holes in your parcel shelf, otherwise the air that is being extracted will just sit in the boot, just an idea m8, thats wat iv done and i havent had ne problems since
IMO, the boot is big enough and doesnt really need extra ventalation as there is a flap behind the rear bumper that allows cool air into the car ;)
cheers guys, any other tips on amp racks ?
to the underneath of the parcelshelf if it could hold it?! :|
to the underneath of the parcelshelf if it could hold it?! :|
the parcel shelf gets removed a lot so that wouldnt be practical :(
Cheers for the idea though mate :thumbs:
how does you amp recomend it should be mounted? some like to be on their side..
maybe just make a box with 2 fans (1 in 1 out) and then if can move around the boot assuming you leave enough slack on wires?
Jameshs_SRI
07-12-2006, 18:15
search for an online rockford fosgate amp manual :thumbs:
All the Fets are mounted on the side casing on a aluminium heatsink away from pcb, (which is made of glass fiber thus a good insulator). So all heat is transferred though the heat sink. turning the amp upside down allows a pocket of flowing cool air to rise around the fets. But to be honest it will not make any difference which way its mounted just look at some of top installers.
All the Fets are mounted on the side casing on a aluminium heatsink away from pcb, (which is made of glass fiber thus a good insulator). So all heat is transferred though the heat sink. turning the amp upside down allows a pocket of flowing cool air to rise around the fets. But to be honest it will not make any difference which way its mounted just look at some of top installers.
but then your PCD will be upsdie and the components on it cant cool as the head cant rise past the board? rockford suggest that the TYPE RF series lay flat on there back? They say that too much heat gets produced and isnt as effiencent so wont be as "good"... I personally wouldnt run the risk just for the sake of mounted it somewhere differnet. but as with anything, its your call.
Jameshs_SRI
10-12-2006, 23:26
but then your PCD will be upsdie and the components on it cant cool as the head cant rise past the board? rockford suggest that the TYPE RF series lay flat on there back? They say that too much heat gets produced and isnt as effiencent so wont be as "good"... I personally wouldnt run the risk just for the sake of mounted it somewhere differnet. but as with anything, its your call.
The only real components that generate heat as a by-product are the fets and these are mounted away from the pcb on a seperate heatsink. i think you will find is that rockford suggest that you dont mount the amp face down against a surface thus eliminating all the effects of the heatsink, but he wants the suspened the amp upside down thus still creating the amp gap that would be required for air flow.
vincefenlon
13-12-2006, 13:33
http://www.talkaudio.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=26 have a read through that, might be for a sub but the process is the same, cut a space out the front and build a box pushed back so it sits flat like that sub in the article does.
http://www.talkaudio.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=26 have a read through that, might be for a sub but the process is the same, cut a space out the front and build a box pushed back so it sits flat like that sub in the article does.
Cheers mate, thats excellent!
vincefenlon
13-12-2006, 14:29
what i would suggest is cuttin the amplifier rack at an angle so its not straight vertical allowing better release of heat
what i would suggest is cuttin the amplifier rack at an angle so its not straight vertical allowing better release of heat
Yep i can do that, good idea !
Im going to make a cover over the front of it, to protect it, the front will probablly mostly made from acrylic. With two computer fans either side of the box, on in one out for extra cooling.
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