compact sub wiring question
 

Hello folks
I recently updated my '09 and put in a Kenwood head unit.
I am now looking to complement this with a compact sub (also Kenwood KSC-SW11)

My question is regarding the wiring diagram in the manual:
http://www.wwstereo.com/_files/15651...0_W-Manual.pdf

They show the yellow wire going to the fuse panel, not directly to the battery terminal... I have been watching several Youtube videos and they all snake the wire into the engine bay and connect to the battery...
So what is the proper way? Am I misreading the manual, or can I pick and empty slot on the fuse panel and not worry about going through the firewall?

thanks

It's not a very powerful system so just about any 12V you find in the fusebox should be enough to power it just fine. Many people pull a fat power wire if they want a dedicated wire to pull a higher amount of power for extra/larger amplifiers.

Thanks for the answer...

Is there an easy way to tap into the fuse panel? How do you wire into an empty slot?

You'll probably want to pick up a cheap multimeter if you don't have one already. Set it to DC readings and hold the black probe onto a bare metal part of the car (ground). Pull your fuse box cover and look at what is available. I'd recommend looking for an open male spade that is exposed. If you have a 12v reading, bingo. Crimp a female spade on the sub power wire and put it on the male spade. Make sure the fuse is on that wire.

If there is no open 12v spade connector, you might have to get a T-tap (although I hate those because they're weak) onto a 12v wire or get really ghetto and pull a fuse then stick the bare wire in the hole that the fuse blade goes into. Replace the fuse to hold the wire in. Use the side that does not have voltage. This side will be supplied power through the fuse. Make sure the fuse rating is sufficient (10A according to the manual) and that if it pops, the circuit is not vital. Say, use the cigarette lighter circuit and not the radiator fan circuit. Don't want the sub to cause the fan to stop then make your car overheat and destroy the motor. That would be dumb.


You can do the same with the remote turn on wire (blue/white wire) but make sure that one is connected to a source that gets 12v when the key is turned on. Best place is the back of the radio unit.

I got a Fuse Buddy off Amazon, cut the leads off and crimped that into my wiring. Best, easiest way to tap into the box.

http://www.tooldesk.com/images/previ...esi-303blg.JPG

Thanks for the help.

I used a similar piggyback fuse device... It plugs into a fuse position, has a slot for the fuse you are invading, and a second for whatever you want to wire.
So got it all done.