Switch and Relay for t-speakers?

DJew Jake · Posted: Dec 21, 2005 12:57 am Post subject: Switch and Relay for t-speakers?

My tower speakers and sub are on the same amp, sometimes i dont want my tower speakers on could i use a relay in the actual speaker cable line with a nice dash mounted switch and just click the relay to break the circuit if i dont want any sound comming out of them.

acurtis_ttu · Soul Rider Joined: 16 Aug 2004 Posts: 499 City: Houston

PAC makes a cheap device you can add inline (speaker line) to do that. I've heard of some people doing it. A relay is not necc. A relay is designed more for powering up a high amp load with a low amp (handling) switch.

wakessories · Soul Rider Joined: 09 Feb 2005 Posts: 283

This will work with no problem. And if you really want to put in a relay, just go to your local automotive store and pick one up. Advanced Auto Parts, O'reillys, etc.....

Switch!
http://www.thinkgeek.com/pcmods/cables/6ca5/

Here are my switches installed. Two control the lights and two control the front and rear speakers on the tower.
http://www.iowastudio.com/album/Additions2Boat/

DJew Jake · Posted: Dec 21, 2005 10:39 am Post subject:

Only reason I was going to use a relay so I did not cook the switch if i was using a nice little push button or something also then i dont have to run heavy guage wire under the dash.

Cyclonecj · Soul Rider Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 338 City: Atlanta

Technically, it will work but it is not very smart. You are changing the load on the amp if you switch the speaker load. It may pop speakers or fry the amp. If you are running a big amp, that cheap switch may smoke.

You should switch the RCA input to the channels supplying the tower speakers. Or add an inline device like a PAC to turn it down.

Or, go to radio shack, buy the 100K dual pot volume control for three bucks, and wire it yourself. That device is much higher quality than the PAC, but you have to solder a bit.

DJew Jake · Posted: Dec 21, 2005 1:34 pm Post subject:

Cyclonecj, Thisis the awsner i was looking for my post was mainly about possible amp damage.

Basilcy tho a switch would be ok aslong as it only switched while the amp was off, so if I wired the switch to a relay which was wired to the power line from the headunit and then that relay was wired to the relay for the actualt tower speakers i would create an "idiot proof" system that would require the headunit to be off (and therfore the amp) before the setting of the towerspeakers can be changed.