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Can I connect amplifier to standard 12V lead acid battery?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by babar, Apr 14, 2013.

  1. babar

    babar New Member

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    I have prius 2007 (Japan model) with standard non-JBL audio system. I wan to install new speakers and a 4 channel amplifier to improve sound quality. I heard that there are two batteries in the Prius.
    My question is that can I connect amplifier to standard lead acid battery (12v) that is under the front hood instead of hybrid battery in the back to save on gas. And to which battery the head unit, display etc. are connected to?

    Babar
     
  2. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    1) Connect your equipment to the 12v battery.
    2) It is in the rear hatch under the passenger side triangle cover

    The Prius has 2 batteries: the traction battery and the auxiliary battery. The traction battery is 180VDC to 250VDC. The auxiliary battery is 11VDC to 14VDC.
     
  3. bobeast

    bobeast Junior Member

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    My recommendation, based on your question, is to do neither. Rather allow a professional installer to make the appropriate connections for you.
     
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  4. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    yes that will save on gas lol...
     
  5. johnnyP13

    johnnyP13 New Member

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    hey man what can you tell me what you go in that? im wanting to put in a 1500rms amp with a 12" sub and a set of front speakers with a 400w amp powering them what you think i can do ? should i add another 12v battery or not?
     
  6. ftl

    ftl Explicator

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    What is the actual power consumption of the amps, per the specifications? I'm betting it's far lower than the rated output power.
     
  7. johnnyP13

    johnnyP13 New Member

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    that do you mean by that want me to link you the amps from the website?
     
  8. ftl

    ftl Explicator

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    Anywhere that shows the detailed specs.
     
  9. ftl

    ftl Explicator

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    The specs don't give the input power. Try asking the manufacturer what the power consumption is for each of the amplifiers.
     
  10. johnnyP13

    johnnyP13 New Member

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    ok i will and you think i could run these on a stock HU and would i possibly put another 12v in or could i just leave one in?
     
  11. johnnyP13

    johnnyP13 New Member

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    would the birth sheet help?
     
  12. johnnyP13

    johnnyP13 New Member

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  13. R-P

    R-P Active Member

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    The 300W amp has 4x75Wrms at 55% efficiency, so it will need close to 600W to produce 300W.
    The 1500W amp has 1000W at 4 ohm at 86% efficiency (1160W) or 1500W at 1 ohm at 63% efficiency (2380W).

    So you could be looking at a 3000W draw when playing testtones, which is much more than your inverter can supply, so best case scenario, you drain your puny 12V battery, worst case scenario: you blow the illusive 100A fuse near the inverter.

    But in real life you won't be playing testtones...

    So if you wire the sub up as a 4 ohm load (this is important, it gives 2/3rds of the output but only HALF the powerdraw!!!), then I wouldn't hesitate to put this in a Prius. It is on the limit though, I wouldn't put anything more powerful in there without at least a bigger battery.
     
  14. morpheusx

    morpheusx Professor Chaos

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    I run an amp in mine that in theory is capable of 4X120 RMS with a peak load if I can remember correctly about double the RMS. However I only use 2 of the 4 channels. And those 2 channels are bridged to power just 1 (10 inch) subwoofer. I have never had any issues with mine in the 6 years I have had this setup in the Prius and my 12v was still alive and kicking at 5 years when I replaced it. That being said I am only interested in listening to my music at a comfortable volume and prefer to let the bass enhance my experience, not enhance the environment of others outside of the car.

    I ran my connections myself when I hooked it up I ran my connections directly to the 12v. The Pos + goes directly to the Positive terminal on the battery (with an in line fuse close to the battery). The plugged the ground directly on the Negative terminal of the battery however any bolt touching the chassis is acceptable the best spot is probably where the negative terminal connects to the bolt below the light cluster on the passenger side of the trunk. Since I hooked mine up using the factory radio I wanted to find a suitable place to connect the turn on lead from the amp. In this case I spliced into the rear windshield wiper electrical connection. in doing this my amp will not be on unless I am in either Ready or in Accessory mode.
     
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  15. R-P

    R-P Active Member

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    Wait, back up here. Is there a 12V lead in the back that is only ON when the car's in "Ready"???
    I made a box with a load of relays to copy/buffer the indicator and other lights from the rear light clusters for the trailer hitch. I also added a relay for a permanent 12V feed through the (13 pole) trailer connector. Which I obviously only want to be ON while the car is in "Ready".
     
  16. morpheusx

    morpheusx Professor Chaos

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    I caught the lead to the rear wiper motor, I caught it from the fuse box under the steering wheel. The rear wiper is only on if the car is in Ready or in position 2 / Accessory, The amp turns off if in position 1 or off. I thought about using the lead from the rear defroster, but didn't want to take the chance that the fuse would blow although I'm convinced it would have been equally acceptable. I have heard of others using a lead from the 12v car lighter adapter plug in the glove box.
     
  17. Protektu

    Protektu Junior Member

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    I created a switched connector running from the lighter adapter and ran that to the amp turn on. I've been using a 1400w Diesel Audio to a hifonics Brutus 12" in my 07 for about 3yrs now. The only issue I currently have is that my amp will overheat on hot SoCal summer days when I'm in traffic. (having that switch near me allows me to turn the amp off to let the circuit reset). This hasnt been a problem as of late, so I'm thinking of just hard wiring it behind the 12v connection there.
     
  18. Bill Bennett

    Bill Bennett New Member

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