Add a car stereo triggered on/off switch?

ViolenceOnTheRadio · 11th September 2010, 05:15 AM

I have a great amp I want to install in my car but, it will be connected direct to the battery and the source signal will of course be my car stereo. The issue being there is no lead for a remote turn on and I don't want the thing on all the time bleeding my battery dry.

Is there an easy solution for adding a small relay of some kind so I can turn on the amp with the car stereo's amp trigger lead?

spoonyro · 30th June 2011, 04:34 PM

Run a new 12V line either from your fuse box or from a distribution block on your battery if you have one (or directly from your battery, but that would just add clutter). Install a 12V toggle switch (search for one on Google or eBay) in the new "hot" wire and wire to the "switch" wire on your car stereo. Mount the switch on your dash or somewhere easy to reach. Voila!

I don't think the toggle switch has to be high-amperage, since the switch wire is only telling the head unit to turn on and draw power from the 12V battery-direct wire. A lot of toggle switches I'm seeing online are 16A. I would guess that's plenty for your purposes.

Also, I'm no car electrics expert. However, while back, I undertook the more complex task of replacing my stock ignition switch with a toggle/button setup, and it has worked flawlessly so far.

spoonyro · 30th June 2011, 04:37 PM

Edit: sorry, this was for your amp. Not sure how you'd do this. I mean, a very-high amperage switch in the battery-to-amp line would work, but that would cost a ton. Get a new amp?

kevinkr · 30th June 2011, 04:56 PM

Moved to Car Audio as I suspect this thread will get a lot more useful responses here. May even be moot given the age of this thread.

Andy5112405 · 30th June 2011, 05:14 PM

Search on E-Bay for sound activated switch.

Eventually you will find Rod Elliots' site.

It's ever so easy to make a relay switch that turns ON in response to an audio signal from the head unit.

OR Has the Head Unit got a Remote Aerial connection - same thing.

Cr@sh · 30th June 2011, 08:38 PM

T-tap or Solder(I prefer solder) a wire (Fused ofc) from your car's ignition wire (What year, model car is it?) to a relay like this:

Cr@sh · 30th June 2011, 08:38 PM

Remote turn on lead comes from your car's ignition wire

jol50 · 1st July 2011, 12:34 AM

You could put something like this in the power wire for the amp, trigger it off the remote on the head or acc power in the fuse box.
Amazon.com: 80 AMP RELAY 12 VOLTS: Electronics

This one is $8 but not sure if it would pass that much with spades, depending on how much your amp takes.
Amazon.com: NTE R51-1D70-12F 70A 12VDC SPST Automotive Relay: Electronics

ian33 · 1st July 2011, 01:02 AM

connect it to the ignition with a fuse in line.Not sure for the amps but i does use 8amps with no problems

jol50 · 1st July 2011, 01:53 AM

What kind of relay you use depends on what power the amp will draw, assuming you mean to switch 12v to the amp. If its under 30A a bosch type like in the diagram above will work fine, they are only a few dollars.

11th September 2010, 05:15 AM	#1
ViolenceOnTheRadio diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2010	Add a car stereo triggered on/off switch? I have a great amp I want to install in my car but, it will be connected direct to the battery and the source signal will of course be my car stereo. The issue being there is no lead for a remote turn on and I don't want the thing on all the time bleeding my battery dry. Is there an easy solution for adding a small relay of some kind so I can turn on the amp with the car stereo's amp trigger lead?

30th June 2011, 04:56 PM	#4
kevinkr diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Blog Entries: 6	Moved to Car Audio as I suspect this thread will get a lot more useful responses here. May even be moot given the age of this thread. __________________ www.kta-hifi.net

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30th June 2011, 04:34 PM	#2
spoonyro diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2011	Run a new 12V line either from your fuse box or from a distribution block on your battery if you have one (or directly from your battery, but that would just add clutter). Install a 12V toggle switch (search for one on Google or eBay) in the new "hot" wire and wire to the "switch" wire on your car stereo. Mount the switch on your dash or somewhere easy to reach. Voila! I don't think the toggle switch has to be high-amperage, since the switch wire is only telling the head unit to turn on and draw power from the 12V battery-direct wire. A lot of toggle switches I'm seeing online are 16A. I would guess that's plenty for your purposes. Also, I'm no car electrics expert. However, while back, I undertook the more complex task of replacing my stock ignition switch with a toggle/button setup, and it has worked flawlessly so far.

30th June 2011, 04:37 PM	#3
spoonyro diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2011	Edit: sorry, this was for your amp. Not sure how you'd do this. I mean, a very-high amperage switch in the battery-to-amp line would work, but that would cost a ton. Get a new amp?

30th June 2011, 05:14 PM	#5
Andy5112405 Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Torpoint	Search on E-Bay for sound activated switch. Eventually you will find Rod Elliots' site. It's ever so easy to make a relay switch that turns ON in response to an audio signal from the head unit. OR Has the Head Unit got a Remote Aerial connection - same thing.

30th June 2011, 08:38 PM	#6
Cr@sh diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Detroit	T-tap or Solder(I prefer solder) a wire (Fused ofc) from your car's ignition wire (What year, model car is it?) to a relay like this:

1st July 2011, 12:34 AM	#8
jol50 diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2007	You could put something like this in the power wire for the amp, trigger it off the remote on the head or acc power in the fuse box. Amazon.com: 80 AMP RELAY 12 VOLTS: Electronics This one is $8 but not sure if it would pass that much with spades, depending on how much your amp takes. Amazon.com: NTE R51-1D70-12F 70A 12VDC SPST Automotive Relay: Electronics

1st July 2011, 01:02 AM	#9
ian33 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: the caribbean	connect it to the ignition with a fuse in line.Not sure for the amps but i does use 8amps with no problems

1st July 2011, 01:53 AM	#10
jol50 diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2007	What kind of relay you use depends on what power the amp will draw, assuming you mean to switch 12v to the amp. If its under 30A a bosch type like in the diagram above will work fine, they are only a few dollars.

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