With the quick connect kit what all is involved in the installation of the arc mini amp? Is it easy and what wires have to run where?

 

What "quick connect kit" are you referring to?

Carl

 

On the power side there are 3 connections. The red and black need to be run to the battery, 10 gage is recommended, fuse the red wire near the battery. The center wire (turn on) goes to acc power, just follow the haedlight wire back a few inches and you will find an un used connector, thats it, plug in the supplied wire there.

On the speaker side ignore the RCA connectors. Use the multi connector for input and splice into the wires already running to your speakers. Follow left right, positive negative as labled.
For the output do the same and run to your speakers.

The set your gains and enjoy!

 

My bet is he is talking about the wiring harness, but looks like journeyman covered it very well.
Kris

 

I'm not a tech or audio guy, but I question the wisdom of running the amp's ground wire to the battery. I'm 99% sure the installation instructions for the Arc 125.2 included with their motorcycle kit that I installed (M.P.A.K. 1) said to run the ground wire to one of the bike's ground studs (I used one of the gound studs on the frame below the front of the seat), and not to the negative battery terminal. That's also what this useful website suggests; i.e. the ground is not run to the battery, but to a good frame ground:

http://www.bcae1.com/amplfier.htm

Also, the installation instructions for J&M's 500W amp include a harness with the amp's ground wire going to a frame ground stud rather than to the battery.

As I said, I'm not a tech or audio guy so I can't explain why the ground wire should go to the frame and not the battery; but, because I'm not a tech or audio guy, I follow the supplied directions.

Otherwise, I have no disagreement with journeyman's post regarding wire gauge, in-line fuse located near the battery on the amp's main power wire, etc.

Carl

 

Thanks guys...apparently arc has a plug and play kit or something. Debating between the arc and a the hawg wired amp which is apparently three plugs and your done.

 

why not run to the battery, since the ground side of the battery goes to the frame. OK that was a joke, why overload the wire that goes to the frame from the battery with a another load? Your only overloading that wire with more heat than it was designed for.

 

The reason not to run your ground to the battery is that it causes a ground loop, which can cause engine noise. The best place I've seen for the amp ground on the pre '09's is on the frame at the steering neck on the right hand side. There's already a screw there. On the '09 and up, find a good place under the fairing.

The key is to keep the ground wire as short as possible.

 

From "Basic Car Audio Electronics" website on NOT using the battery ground for the amp (http://www.bcae1.com/amplfier.htm):


"7. If the amplifier's ground is properly connected to the body/chassis of the vehicle, it will provide a better return path to the charging system's ground than will a ground wire run back to the battery."

Carl

 

I have the mini, the instructions say to ground to the metal close to the amp

http://www.arcaudio.com/product-pdf/miniv2.pdf

Does the head unit not have the RCA jacks out to run into the mini in. It will provide a cleaner low voltage source to the amp, I ran the ken wood to the arc this way.