A blue cable is behind the head unit and is known as the turn-on or remote wire. As the name implies, its primary purpose is telling your amplifier to turn on once your headphone jack is switched on.
This feature can be found on almost every aftermarket head unit. Another reason people look for a way to turn on their aftermarket amplifiers is that most stock radios don’t have a wire that can be used to turn them on from a distance.
In this post we show you how to turn on an amplifier without remote wire. You may use this to connect an aftermarket amp to a stock radio.
What Is a Remote Wire?
The remote wire is the name given to a wire which is run from the main power distribution panel and then split into multiple cables. It is used to power equipment which needs a lot of power but is located some distance away from the main power panel. There are two types of remote wires:
- Line powered
- Load powered
In both cases the remote wire consists of a pair of cables which are run from the main power panel to the remote location. The first cable in each pair is used for the live side, while the second is used for the neutral side.
When running the remote wire it is important to follow the proper installation procedure to avoid damaging the electrical system or causing problems.
How Does the Remote Wire Work?
The remote wire runs from the main power panel to a location where a load will be connected. Once the load is plugged in, the power is distributed through the two cables of the remote wire. This is done by connecting the live and neutral sides of the cables together, using an appropriate plug on the end of each cable.
What Is the Purpose of the Remote Wire?
Having a remote wire on a vehicle amplifier should be simple to grasp. When you switch on your vehicle audio, you need to turn on your amplifier as well.
To switch on the amplifier without the remote wire, you would have to travel to the location where the amplifier is located in your automobile. Aside from the inconvenience of constantly resetting the device, you’d also have to do it each time you turned on your stereo in order to avoid accidental activation. It would deplete the battery if it weren’t for this.
This would be both inconvenient and, in some situations, just impossible. Some amplifiers are hidden beneath dashboards, seats, and trunks of automobiles.
Since many amplifiers need the removal of panels and seats from your car to switch on or off, they are difficult to use. Your automotive audio system would be incomplete without this cable, which is now an absolute need.
Tools and Accessories You Will Need
The following is a list of the equipment and supplies you’ll need to get the job done. You can get the tools I use from the links below if you don’t already have them.
Consider the fact that certain tools and accessories are optional and may not be necessary for your circumstance.
- Screwdrivers
- Torx screwdriver
- Pliers made of plastic
- The iron used for soldering.
- In order to shrink, heat is required.
- Toe-to-toe attachment points
- Infrared cable
- Cutters and crimpers of wire
- Tools for removing wires
How to Turn on an Amplifier Without Remote Wire?
When it comes to turning on your amplifier, there are a few different ways that you can do it. If your amp is self-powered, you may be able to simply turn it on and off at will using the power switch. However, if your amp is powered by an external source, it may require a remote wire in order to turn it on.
You can switch on a vehicle amp without using a remote wire. Amplifiers are powered on and off using this cable. Sending electricity down to wake it up is what happens when you turn your stereo on. Without a remote connection, you may switch on any automobile amp for testing reasons.
It’s completely safe and won’t do any harm to your automobile audio equipment. Aside from JL Audio, Rockford Fosgate and other brands, this has been tested and works flawlessly with each of these manufacturers.
- Inspect the vehicle amp for any 12 volt power sources.
- In this case, a length of 20 gauge wire, about 5 cm long, would be suitable.
- Make use of a screwdriver to unscrew both the remote and power wire termainls at once.
- Make a circular loop by inserting a piece of wire into each of the two terminals and securing it there.
- Finally, re-screw them in place to ensure that the wire is secure.
- As soon as you turn on your vehicle amp, the lights will begin to flash and music will begin to play via any subwoofers or speakers you have hooked up.
How to Test Your Remote Turn on Wire?
Use a multimeter and the positive lead on the remote turn on wire and the negative lead to a grounding point to see whether your remote turn on wire is working correctly.
There should be no power when the ignition is turned off.
Put the ignition switch in the OFF position and repeat the same procedure as the first time around. The remote turn on wire should have a voltage of 12+ volts.
Use a multimeter to check the voltage of the wire when the ignition is off to make sure it is plugged into a source of steady electricity.
A bad connection or a lack of connection to a wire that gets electricity while the ignition is on may cause a remote turn on wire to not have voltage when the ignition is on.
Conclusion
Turning on and off the audio system may turn on and off the automobile amplifier using a signal connection known as a remote wire. Every time you start your car radio, you’d have to manually turn on the amplifier.
The majority of today’s amplifiers have a remote wire connection point, and they must be linked in order for the amplifier to function.
The remote cables for your car’s audio system should now be evident to you after reading this blog post. Installing it on your own is always preferable, but we understand if it isn’t possible.
