***2 Amps 2 Subs*** Cap, Two 12v Lines?

[AleroBloke]

I Just recently bought another amplifier and subwoofer for my car, I have (2) Soundstream 360 watts 2 channel amps and (2) Sony 12" inch subwoofers, I want to have two sealed boxes in my trunk have each one of the amps power each sub. What would I need I know this might be a weird set up. Would I need a Cap? I want to buy a better Alternator, cuz my lights dim even with just the one soundstream and one sony. Also how would I split the 12v line from my battery? would i just run seperate lines to each amp? one last question, I have a really good after market stereo, how would I connect the rca? It can only go to one amp at a time, but on my soundstreams they have a line out feature...just need some help. please don't get mad, I know some of you pm me saying I ask too many questions, but I joined this site so I can get some help and some answers, thanks so much any input will help.

[mikegett]

You need a distribution block for your amps. The best thing to do is place a fuse block very close to your battery. Be sure to put a fuse rated for both of your amps added togeather. Run as large of a cable back to the trunk as possible. I would suggest a 1 gauge. At the trunk place a distribution block on the fire wall (bolt it down good). From the distribution block run two four gauge wires to the amps. You may even be able to use eight gauge but I would stay away from it. Your grounds need to be of the same size or larger as your power cable. Try to bolt them down togeather in a solid location. Since you have a line out on one amp you should be ok. Just run a rca from the head unit to one amp. Then a rca from that amps lineout to the others line in. After that you are set. I do have one suggestion. Since your altenator already dimms try using one amp for the two subs. You may have enough juice coming from it to get you by until a new altenator can be bought. If you are uncertain about this post your sub models and amp models.

[AleroBloke]

Oh okay, I totally understand what your saying. I was thinking that. Where can I get these Distribution Blocks? Probably at a local sound audio place right, I need two of them one that combines the fuses for both amps (near the battery) then another once I hit the trunk to make "Y" to both subs right? 1 guage coming from the batt to teh trunk then split to 4 gauge. i see

I already bought the amplifiers and it will be usless for the other amp if i use just one, so i'm just gonna make the best of what i bought and use both..

AMP:
Soundstream Xstream series XTA360.2 (360 watts rms bridged)

Subs:
two seperate subs both in seperate sealed boxes Sony Xplod XS-L121P5
12 inch subs

thanks so much,

[FormulaNERD]

if you absoloutly had to, you could put a block under the hood and run (2) 4g wires from there, but mikegett has the better soloution.

[turtles_ride]

mikegetts got it right. Put a large enough fuse for both amps really close to your battery. run the 1guage or 2 guage power wire to the trunk, and right to your coil or cap, this will stop your lights from dimming and work for both amps. then run the large power wire from the cap to the distribution block. The distribution block is just 2 hunks of metal with a hole on 1 for your main power wire to go in, then 2 fuses(1 for each amp), then 2 holes on the other hunk of metal for the wires going to your amps. I'm not sure about the RCAs from 1 amp to the other, but if hooking it up in series doesn't work, just get a y-splitter to run rca's to both. If you have a really good deck you might have 2 sets of RCA outputs right off the deck. And don't forget to have really large ground wires too, otherwise you'll get engine whine. Good luck.

[AleroBloke]

Sweet, i'm gonna buy all the equipment today and install it! thanks, but what kind of cap do i need? just any old kind? also on the back of my deck it has a 3 rca outputs. 1 for the front speakers and 1 for the rear speaker and another for the subs.