How to Hook Up a Car Amp Inside the House to a Wall Outlet
By Nichole Liandi
If you've got a car amplifier you'd like to use in your home, there's one major obstacle to overcome: how to power the amplifier. Wall outlets provide 110-volt AC power, but amplifiers require 12-volt DC power. You'll have to do a little extra wiring, but the problem is not insurmountable.
Look up the input power specifications for your amplifier, using the manual or the manufacturer's website. Find the specification for current draw in amperes.
Purchase an AC to DC power inverter. Make sure the inverter can produce a 12-volt DC output at the specified amperage rating.
Cut a length of 10-gauge red wire, a length of 10-gauge black wire and a length of 16-gauge wire, each long enough to reach from the amplifier to the inverter. Remove 1/2 inch of insulation from each end of the wires with your wire strippers.
Loosen the power terminals of the amplifier, marked "+" and "-", with a screwdriver. Loosen the REM terminal of the amplifier with a screwdriver.
Slide the ends of your wires into the loosened terminals and tighten down to clamp the wires. Insert the red wire into the "+" terminal, the black wire into the "-" terminal and the 16-gauge wire into the REM terminal.
Loosen the terminals of the inverter. The method and tool will vary by brand. Slide the black wire into the "-" terminal and tighten. Twist together the ends of the red wire and the 16-gauge wire, slide them into the "+" terminal and tighten.
Plug the inverter into a wall socket and turn on the inverter to power the amplifier.
References
- "Car Stereo Cookbook;" Mark Rumerich; 2005
Writer Bio
Based in Virginia, Nichole Liandi has been a freelance writer since 2005. Her articles have appeared on various print and online publications. Liandi has traveled extensively in Europe and East Asia and incorporates her experiences into her articles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from West Virginia University.