Need Veteran Advice Please
 

:ohwell: I am somewhat knowledgeable about wiring amps as long as you don't get too specific. I've wired a few amps in my day.....I'm a rookie....it's been a while.

I've got a new '07 Chevy Silverado Extended Cab. I need the schematics for wiring an amp for the truck. In the past, I've been able to use only a wiring harness and RCA cables to transition from the factory CD player to the amp. Is wiring an amp this easy nowadays? If I knew what equipment I need, I can do the rest. Please help...thanks.

your question is a little confusing.....

if you are keeping the stock deck and it dosen't have RCA outputs you need to use a line output converter to hook up additional amplifiers.... I recommend looking for a good one.....

you'll just use the high level inputs.

The amp should have a diagram for it and you use the rear speaker wires to feed the amp signal.

OOORRR, you can buy a high level adapter, where you use the speaker wires as the signal to a box that allows you to hook up RCA's instead of having ugly looking wires all over the place.

And the rest SHOULD be as easy as running power, ground and remote wire(ignition) to the amp.

Of course it may not be that simple car makers love to make difficult.

All you need to do is run a power wire from your battery, ground the amp on the chassis, remote from deck. RCA's from deck, and then signal wires to speakers/subs.

I'm hoping its simple as that. I will look closer tomorrow when I pick the truck up. I was hoping someone here already knew what to expect from the new '07 Chevy's factory deck so I could be prepared to install.

Say the deck lacks simple RCA jacks and a source for the remote wire, what will I need to do then?


Thanks for the help.

It will have a remote for sure.

It may not have RCA's, which will require you to get an LOC to adapt the RCA cables to the stock connections.

^ see the above posts... if there aren't RCAs you need an adaptor (or an amp that has an adaptor built in)

as far as 12v turn on there should be an ignition wire you can tap into.

1st. You'll have a hard time buying any schematic for an 07. They'll come out a couple years late.
2nd. GM uses Retained accessory power for switched power to the deck. You can take a tap off that ( easy to find on the back of the deck, it'll be red) to use as remote turn on, but it'd be safer to use that to control a relay and fuse for remote. My 06 chevy has a fuse labeled RAP, you could tap that right inside the fuse box.
3rd. You didn't really say what you're using this amp for? Are you replacing the factory speakers or just adding subs? Just adding subs is easy, get an amp with a high level input and a built in crossover. Just wire the amp inputs in paralel with the speakers. You'l want an amp with a remote gain control so you can tweak the sub level from the drivers seat.
Good Luck.