How Many Watts Is A 1998 Ford Expiditions Stock Amplifier?

I have a 1998 Ford Explorer and need help wiring my new amplifier and two subs, diagrams on how?

• My Equipment 1998 Ford Explorer Boss PH4.600 Car Amplifier 2 Lanzar VW154 1-Way 15" Car Subwoofers; Each are 8 ohm speakers Wondering on how to wire them to use the least power from the battery Also, would you suggest getting a high output alternator? Possibly a second battery? Or would the car run fine with everything attached? -Thanks

• Answer:

  First I wouldn't use a 4 channel amplifier for subwoofers, but since that is what you are using... The VW154's are single 4 ohm voice coils, not 8 ohm. There is one, and only one, way to wire two single coil subs to a 4 channel amp, period. Connect the subs just the way it shows you to in the owners manual for the amp, bridged mode on page 12. http://images.bossaudio.com/manuals/PH4.600_DOWNLOAD_1.PDF Use 4 awg power and ground wire. Upgrade the factory alternator to battery, battery ground to chassis, and engine block to chassis wires to 4 awg. (Failing to do this step is no better than using small 10 awg wire for powering your amp which will cause it to overheat and short out.) Upgrading the alternator to high output is recommended. The addition of an aux battery in the rear is also recommended but only after upgrading the alternator. Your alternator is your primary power source. It normally is already loaded at 80% with the stock electronics so adding more than 500 watts worth of amplifier can easily overload it causing alternator failure. The amp you are looking at is 2400 watts (which is probably over rated and in reality is probably more like 1200 watts total) which will put a lot of strain on your alternator. Running the amp while the engine is off (on battery alone) will probably drain the battery in less than 30-45 minutes. Draining the battery and recharging multiple times will cause the battery to become defective. So yes, I HIGHLY recommend upgrading the alternator AND the factory wiring I mentioned before. Ford is notorious for using very small alternator and chassis ground wiring and your amps current has to flow through that wiring to get to/from the alternator and battery. Not upgrading that wiring would be the same as using too small of wire to power your amp.