What did you use, or what do you recommend?

Title says it. My 4-channel amp is inside my spare tire on a board. I'll leave the RCA inputs because they're easy to deal with, but I need disconnects in groups for:

A) Power, Ground, Remote Turn On
------->10 Ga. power/ground plus 18 Ga. Remote turn-on

B) Front Speakers
------->16 Ga. x 4 wires

C) Rear Speakers
------->16 Ga. x 4 wires


The power ones are baffling me, I've looked at Radio Shack and West Marine. The best I can come up with is a trailer hitch quick disconnect (four-way). I also thought about using a standard 120V plug set, but I quiver at the thought of somebody accidently plugging it into a wall outlet. I guess I need something rated at 25-30 amps?

 

Nah....just go to home depot...and get good quality male/female quick disconnects. take about 2 inches of each wire (except the RCAs) and put them into the amp, and the other end put on the female. Then put males on all the lead wires, and plug them in to their respective mates. Make sure you know what wires are what....colors would help.

 

Thanks for your reply. Could you describe these a little more so I know what I'm looking for? Are they spade-type M/F connectors? Any specific size or rating?

Thanks!

 

Youll need an assortment of sizes....about 18 gauge (remote wire) 10-12 gauge (speaker wire) 4-8 gauge (power and ground wire)

When you get to home depot...open the packages, and find some that are tight. Those are fine. Spades are fine....whatever works.

 

If you can give me until tomorrow morning, I'll give you the perfect product to sort out the power-plug problem. We use them for heavy ampeage quick disconnect applications, but they come in assorted sizes. Just can't remember the name of the company right now...

 

Have a look at these:

http://www.andersonpower.com/products/mp/sb.html

SMH is the company that supplies the ones we use, but this place had good pictures and the connectors are compatible/similar. They are called SB (storage battery) connectors and are generally used for connecting UPS power supplies to their electronics. Since the UPS batteries are essentially AGM car batteries, this should work quite well.

Good luck!

 

nice reference Coach...

i've also recommended those same types of connectors in the past as well for power... i've found them over at http://www.partsexpress.com . i've also sent people to http://www.mcmaster.com/ .

Parts Express has a number of speaker level connectors available...
http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage.cfm?&D...7&WebPage_ID=21


whatever you do though -- be SURE to check that the amperage rating of the power and ground connectors are greater than the total fusing for your system!! this is critical, or you could end up w/ a fire... and considering most of us have our wiring passing very near our gas tanks.....

 

LATE,
I'll release the cat from the bag tonight. I'll post some pics. I've been working on a quick disconnect system.

So if you've got horses, hold on to 'em.

-bill.

 

Willie... i kept my promise...

can't wait to see the pics.

 

Many many thanks Phil, you have been uber helpful in the search for connectors.

But, alas, the system isn't done yet. I finally have all the parts, but between work and the wife scheduling my weekends solid, i haven't had much time.

A few of those connectors are a major PIA, but they look cool, and hopefully :crossesfingers: everything will work.

i actually can't wait to post the pics.