Car Stereos: sub and amp installation, toyota hiace van, parallel configuration

Question
Hey Brian, I recently bought a Toyota Hiace van, and am finding it difficult to wire in my sub and amp. I have test my equipment so thats all fine, however I am unsure where I need to hook up my amp wire to the battery. My van has two batteries, one hooked into the other. Also am having trouble finding the best ground for the amp. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance! Nicole

Answer
Hi Nicole,

Unfortunately, I'm not at all familiar with your van; this model isn't sold in the North American market.  In most cases, when you have a 2-battery system, you can connect the amplifier's power wire at the positive terminal of either battery.  Typically the two batteries are wired together in a parallel configuration, so you can use whichever battery is most conveniently placed.

The ground wire should be connected to the closest solid point of the vehicle's frame or chassis.  If you can find a seat or structural bolt on the floor of the van near the amplifier, you can often use the bolt for a grounding point, or place another ground bolt or screw near it; factory bolts are usually connected to the frame.  However, having never seen the interior of this van, I can't give you any very specific advice about finding a ground point.

Hope this helps!

Brian