Can someone tell me how much voltage is required to turn on say a ZX450 amplifier? If I only used 5 volts to turn it on would it affect the operation of the unit at high volumes etc?

Sorry, I am referring to the remote-on voltage from the headunit.
Thanks

I am confused. Why would you want to do that even if it did work.. 12V [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

My new head unit is only putting out about 9 volts remote-on to 2 ZX450s and an EQL. And at very high volume the sound begins distorting as if the amps weren't getting enough power from the distribution block.

My old head unit put out 12 volts remote-on and their wasn't this distortion occurring (all else is exactly the same).

Is that 9 volts measured at the deck or at one of the devices? The reason I ask is your three devices could be to much of a load on your remote circuit and you might need an interposing relay.

The voltage is taken after the relay right off the deck. I put a relay in with the remote power to the 12 volt in and to the trigger - this eliminated the power-down spike I was getting through the remote line to the amps.

What kind of relay are you suggesting? What does it do?

Just a standard relay with a 12volt coil. Wire the remote output from the deck to the coil of the relay, then bring another wire directly from the battery or wherever you can find one, stick a small fuse on it like a 5 amp or something and go through the normally open contact on the relay out to your amps etc.

Kinda sounds like what you've already done though.

Oh wait, I just read the whole Eclipse crap thread. Now I see what you've done. You need to use the remote out to energize the coil on the relay only. Get a different source of power to run through the contacts thus alleviating the deck from carrying the load all together.

Good thought, I thired that and had engine noise galor from the factory deck constant power line...not convinced another 12 volt constant source would reduce the engine whine though..

Hmm...I'm trying to figure out how that could make a difference. Is your deck grounded just using the gnd wire from the factory harness? If so, you might want to ground it directly to the chassis...same with the negative of the relays' coil.