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To get the ball rolling, maybe, here is an article...
How to Install a Car Stereo Amplifier
To get the full effect of your car's audio system, you may want to add an amplifier to power the speakers.
Steps:
1. Read the installation manual that comes with the amplifier.
2. Select a location for the amplifier that gets some air circulation, such as under a seat or in the trunk.
3. Use descent RCA cables to connect the low-level output of the radio to the low-level input of the amplifier - if the radio has a low-level output.
4. Connect the speaker wires coming out of the radio directly to the amplifier if the radio does not have a low-level output.
5. Take the power lead for the antenna from the back of the radio and run it to the amplifier turn-on input. Now turn on the radio. 12 volts should go to the lead and turn on the amplifier. Make certain that the power antenna lead stays on while the stereo is on.
6. Pull the power for the amplifier directly from the battery. Make sure you put a fuse on the line at the battery and amplifier. Check the owner's manual for the proper rating for the fuse.
7. Refer to the owner's manual for the size of the power and ground cables to use.
8. Use the same gauge cable for the amplifier ground as you do for the amplifier power. The ground cable should be no longer than 18 inches in length.
9. Find a good ground. Clean the area you select for ground and bolt the wire to that location.
10. Use 16-gauge speaker wire and connect the wire from the speakers to the amplifier. Make sure that the wire connected to the positive of the speaker is connected to the positive of the amplifier and the wire connected to the negative of the speaker is connected to the negative of the amplifier.
Tips:
With some new radios, the power is taken away from the lead when you play a CD or tape, so the power antenna will come down. If this is the case with your radio, it will have a separate lead coming out for an amp turn-on. Test the lead with a test light. When the radio is on, the test light should also be on. When you play a CD, the test light should be on. When you turn the radio off, the test light should be off.
Many of today's cars have fiberglass bodies. You don't want your ground to be fiberglass. You want it to be a solid piece of metal.
from ehow.com.
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