Thread: My newest project- Subwoofer Retrofit!

Hey guys,
For a few years I've had an extra subwoofer and amplifier laying around that I half assed to work inside my home. This is the third and final iteration of this project, and I think its pretty damn cool. I have a ported infinity reference subwoofer and an infinity amp which I shoe-horned into a custom box I made. This third box is larger than the last and the subwoofer box itself is sealed from the amplifier and power supply. Check out the pictures for more info and tell me what you think!




Ardunio controlled fans, Notice the blue LED to signify that the amplifier is on, and the fans are not running.


Second picture of the ardunio controlled fans but this time, the thermistor temperature sensor on the heat sink on the power supply has heated up enough to turn the fans on, one exhaust and one intake. They are controlled by the temperature sensor and are variable speed thus, the hotter the power supply gets, the more air the fans push. If and when the fans are needed to run at full power to cool the power supply, the LED turns red. Also note the USB input on the top left, that connects to the onboard arduino that controls the fans. I can do diagnostics and reprogramming remotely.


For anyone who is interested, here is a picture of the completed interior wiring. Notice the computer power supply to convert 120v AC to 12v DC for the amplifier. Also, on the other side of the amplifier is the arduino micro controller hooked up to the fans, and the lights located inside the amplifier housing. The board runs off 5 volts from the computer power supply and takes in a 0-5 volt signal from a thermistor located on the heat sink power supply to control the fan speed and aureately gauge the power supply temperature.


Closeup of the breadboard and arduino circuits. The usb connector on the ardunio has been relocated on the rear of the subwoofer to reprogram and view real time temperatures on the arduino.

I like it.

Very nice man, and great clean install!

Nice! How's the cooling with the fans on?

That's pretty cool really. Have you done a thread on the setup in your car?

Originally Posted by Hippo Machine

Nice! How's the cooling with the fans on?

Pretty great in all honesty, the fans can handle cooling both the amplifier and the power supply without issue. Equalizes out pretty quickly and at a fairly low temperature.

Originally Posted by Steel Armadillo

That's pretty cool really. Have you done a thread on the setup in your car?

Yeah actually i did, I appreciate you asking! Its at http://www.grandprixforums.net/trunk...all-47509.html if your interested. Really great to hear such great comments from this forum.

Originally Posted by Jteske88

may i ask what power source you used, anyone i had couldnt drive my amps?

Yeah sure, I used a butchered computer power supply to power both the amplifier and the arduino board. I bought it at a yard sale on the cheap. I unsoldered all of the 3.3,5 and 12 volt wires and soldered in my own 12v wire that spliced both of the 12v rails together to get the full amperage of both rails. I soldered in a second ground and also one 5v wire to run the ardunio and power it. The switch on the amplifier is the turn on for the power supply, and the amplifier is wired to turn as as soon as it receives power.

Originally Posted by Jteske88

dude i understand but i got an old dell psu. if i hack on it your telling me i can make it run the amps without them shutting down

Depending on the power output of the power supply, it may run a smaller amplifier like mine. I'm only running like 275 watts, or 12.5 amps, which the power supply runs just fine. You have to take a look however and see what the power supply is rated for.