Sound Systems

[DJ]

Looking at speakers, head units & amps with plans to instal a system in an FC sedan with original wiring. The wiring kit suggested for the amp comes with cable to connect direct to the batt. What I have in mind is a modest system but the size of the fuse & this cable is frightening. I'm now wondering if it's really as simple as the diagram indicates, or if I need to upgrading anything else to accommodate a modern sound system.
Any advice/warnings appreciated.

[JOX515]

G'day DJ,

It is as simple as it looks BUT make sure your battery is a really good one. I will take a pic of how JB attached his amp to the battery to give you an idea. Yes, I am still babysitting JB's ute  ;D

Cheers, Graeme

[DJ]

That will be good thanks Graeme. I have a good H/D battery. Can't get over the size of this cable & fuse.

[JOX515]

The big red cable is for the amp and is screwed directly to the battery post....

[DJ]

Unreal, thanks Graeme.

[JOX515]

And it is a really good idea to have the battery on a trickle charger when the car is not in use as the amp can be power hungry......

[ardiesse]

The 60 A fuse on the main unit should be warning enough . . .
If your electrical system is original, be aware that your generator will only be able to supply 20 A max.
Too much doof-doof on a wet night in traffic, your battery will go flat, and your generator will expire.
If you plan on cranking the volume up for extended periods, then you'll need an alternator which can supply the current - at least 50 A would be my guess.

Rob

[Errol62]

Or an Aircheif. 6A rather than 60. 😁


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[DJ]

The Aircheif I have is looking better all the time.
Yes, the monster fuse did attract my attention & the load on the generator is exactly the sort of thing I wondered about. Thanks. I planned for a simple stereo arrangement without anything booming in the back. I'm a bit deaf but I don't need a powerful set up. I'll look into what's involved in fitting an alternator next.

[freddyc]

You can buy alternators that look like original generators. A mate has one in his EK. As for your cabling my amp cable is a fat as my thumb and match earth side to that as well.
fred

[DJ]

That sounds like something worth looking into, thanks Fred. The cable I have is around the same size, huge.

[RET]

The mellifluous tones of the ABC through valve powered amplification to a single speaker should be enough for any man. Let us speak no more of this 60 amp fuse witchcraft.

[Errol62]

Rusted on to radio national 729kHz


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[DJ]

Let us speak no more of this 60 amp fuse witchcraft.

Yes, imagine trying to comprehend such a thing for a radio in the 50s.

[ardiesse]

At work there's a photo of a CSIRO-prototype police radar from the early 1950s.  It took up the entire boot of a Plymouth, with most of the space being taken by a motor-generator set and a rank of 6-V car batteries.  I bet it would have drawn some serious current from the batteries once the klystrons were up to their couple of thousand volts . . .

Rob