SwedeChariot

Hi folks,

I'm not very active on this forum, or in the world of car audio, but I have run into a question related to my project car, a 1971 SAAB 96. The radio was not original when I bought the car and had a tape deck and no aux inputs, so I decided to swap it out. I didn't want to spend much and I didn't want anything that looked to out of place in my vintage interior, so I settled on the Lepai LP 2020A+, a cheap Chinese amp that, despite its questionable pedigree, gets good reviews (maybe because it uses the T-amp IC).

So anyway, the amp isn't, as far as I know, specifically designed for automotive use. It specifies a 12v 2amp power supply, and I'm wondering if I need to install an amperage regulator to step the power down to 2 amps? I noticed my old tape deck had a 6 amp fuse installed just upstream from the positive lead – should I simply connect the Lepai positive lead to that? (I'm actually surprised that fuse is intact as even my little alternator must put out at least 20 or 30 amps. I guess I need some edumucatin' on car audio power requirements.

Geoff

audio1der

Goeff,
I would replace the 6A fuse with a 2A and hook the amp up.
It will be powered by a dedicated circuit off the main fuse box, not receiving the full 20A or 30A the alternator produces (which is shared amongst the entire car's needs).
Sounds like you're right on track.

SwedeChariot

The amps are diffused throughout the system – of course, that makes sense. Thanks for the advice, I'll give the 2 amp fuse a try.