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CarAudioCalc

Disclaimer

Disclaimer and safety

Researched guidance, not professional advice. CarAudioCalc publishes calculators and buying guidance compiled from published physics, alignment relations, manufacturer specifications, owner manuals and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We do not test products in person. Every figure here is a planning figure, and a disclaimer does not make a wrong number right, which is why this site returns no answer rather than a guess when the published relations do not cover your inputs.

12V electrical safety

  • Fit the main fuse within 18 inches of the battery positive terminal. Every inch of cable between the battery and the fuse is unprotected, and a car battery will push several hundred amps into a short without hesitating.
  • A fuse protects the wire, not the equipment. It is sized at or below the conductor ampacity. The amplifier has its own onboard fuses and those protect the amplifier.
  • Disconnect the battery negative before running power wire.
  • Use a rubber grommet anywhere a cable passes through sheet metal. A bare edge will eventually cut through insulation, and a shorted power cable is a fire.
  • Keep cables clear of steering, airbag and moving components.
  • Crimp connections properly. A poor crimp at several hundred amps is a resistance heater.

Hearing

Sustained exposure above roughly 100 dB causes measurable and permanent hearing loss within minutes, and the damage does not heal. Low frequency content feels less loud than it measures, which removes the natural warning that would otherwise make you turn it down. Competition operators wear hearing protection and leave the vehicle during a run, which is a reasonable indication of what those levels really are.

Fitment

We cannot and do not tell you that a particular part fits your particular vehicle. Enclosures shaped for a cab, high output alternators and speakers with a given mounting depth all fit a specific list of vehicles and nothing else. Check the manufacturer fitment list against your own year, engine, body and cab style before ordering.

Legal and local rules

Vehicle noise ordinances vary widely by jurisdiction and some are enforced against a measured level at a distance. Modifications to a vehicle electrical system can affect insurance and warranty. Both are your responsibility to check.