Practically every aftermarket head unit has a remote turn-on wire. But there are cases where a car’s stock radio is missing one, so most individuals need to find alternative ways to turn on the aftermarket amplifier without using the remote wire.
The issue of whether a stereo has a remote wire or not is one that many car owners face when setting up an amp in their car. But if the factory radio doesn’t have a remote turn-on wire, how can you switch the amplifier on or off?
In this article, we’ll teach you how to turn on an amp without a remote wire, so you don’t have to worry about it.
Affiliate Disclosure: AmplifierZone is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
What is the Remote Wire
The remote wire or remote turn-on wire is the cable that connects your car amplifier to the stereo. It can be identified as a blue wire with a white stripe found behind the head unit.
The remote wire automatically turns your audio system on and off with the ignition or stereo. An aftermarket stereo has many additional wires that are plugged into it, making it possible for you to plug your amplifier into the stereo.
When your radio is switched on, the remote wire notifies the amplifier and tells it to turn on. If there is a remote turn-on wire in your car, the amplifier will also be turned on or off whenever the stereo is turned on or off.
Compared to the old stereos that used a power antenna wire to turn on the amp, the new factory stereo uses the remote turn-on wire.
How Does a Remote Wire Work
When the radio is switched on, the remote turn-on wire receives a signal of +12 volts DC from the battery, which will allow the radio’s remote turn-on wire to signal the amplifier to also switch on. When the radio goes off or is turned off, the power is cut off and the remote wire can no longer send signals to the amplifier – so the amplifier also turns off.
Your car’s amp won’t turn on if the remote turn-on wire isn’t connected properly. So no matter how good the head unit’s power supply or ground connection is, the amplifier won’t come on. This would lead to a gradual drain of the car’s battery.