Question if possible to wire car speaker amp power to pc/psu

[puerrican85]

Hey guys been on the forum for a little while now and have been looking for an answer on setting up a car speaker amp for a cocktail cabinet I'm building for my father for his entertainment room. I have a set of 90 watts speakers I picked that I plan to use (primarily due to the design as it fits color wise and looks) and since most simple amps for home theaters and lower watt builds like the happ controls provide to little power I was thinking of using a car speaker amp providing 200 watts. Only thing I'm not sure if it can be wired to be powered by the internal power of the pc's psu.  I'm fairly knowledged in terms of wiring as I have built a 4 player cabinet personally and wired everything from the pushbuttons, coin doors, and car speakers( using a  simple but larger home theater amp).

 But I wasn't sure about using a car amp. Anyone gone about doing this and if so how is the wiring primarily done, can it be wired as if practically wiring another case fan (PC builders will understand)? No need to be too simplified as I just need to know. Thanks for any help in advance.

[Kevin Mullins]

But I wasn't sure about using a car amp. Anyone gone about doing this and if so how is the wiring primarily done, can it be wired as if practically wiring another case fan (PC builders will understand)? No need to be too simplified as I just need to know. Thanks for any help in advance.

I've done this with a smaller 120watt amp in my jukebox and it works great. But I wouldn't go much bigger than that as the current draw will be to much for the power supply.

I tried a bigger one once and it just completely shut the system down. 

[puerrican85]

Thanks, was wondering if anyone was ever gonna help out lol. I appreciate it. I'm not looking for a monster amp, was looking to put around 150 - 200 max as I didnt wanna underpower the speakers either.

[Barry Barcrest]

But I wasn't sure about using a car amp. Anyone gone about doing this and if so how is the wiring primarily done, can it be wired as if practically wiring another case fan (PC builders will understand)? No need to be too simplified as I just need to know. Thanks for any help in advance.

I've done this with a smaller 120watt amp in my jukebox and it works great. But I wouldn't go much bigger than that as the current draw will be to much for the power supply.

I tried a bigger one once and it just completely shut the system down. 

What rating was your power supply when you did this kevin?

[Kevin Mullins]

But I wasn't sure about using a car amp. Anyone gone about doing this and if so how is the wiring primarily done, can it be wired as if practically wiring another case fan (PC builders will understand)? No need to be too simplified as I just need to know. Thanks for any help in advance.

I've done this with a smaller 120watt amp in my jukebox and it works great. But I wouldn't go much bigger than that as the current draw will be to much for the power supply.

I tried a bigger one once and it just completely shut the system down. 

What rating was your power supply when you did this kevin?

I'll try to remember to open it up and look and see if it says. (been awhile)
I can tell ya it's an older Gateway PC case and power supply. Nothing fancy.
I was actually kinda surprised it worked out so well without any hiccups.

But it didn't like the 800 watt amp I tried..... shut the whole thing down in a blink of an eye. 

Link to my project that I need to seriously update:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=58692.0
(no pics of the amp setup yet)

EDIT: I forgot about this thread showing the amp when I was trying to figure some inverted signal stuff out:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=61175.0
(pics of the amp)

[Kevin Mullins]

The power supply is even smaller than I had expected...... 90W.
It's apparently the bottom end of the line of power supplies they used in these older Gateways. And I don't run a bunch of other fancy stuff off of it like lights or any extras of that sort. It's holding up strong running this little amp plus the pc and the sound is surprising.

Model Number is NPS-90AB-1 B

I ran the 12vdc rigth from one of the extra plugs inside the case straight to the amp just as if it had been installed in a car.

[puerrican85]

Thanks for the update man, if you were able to pull it off with the 90watt you had I should be okay then, I'm using a 450watt thermaltake and like you I'm not using as many peripherals in the case as well. I'll test it out this weekend or next using a car amp my cousin has laying around.

[Kevin Mullins]

I would definitly be curious to see how that comes out, because all of my stuff is bottom of the line stuff. But it works well together. So maybe a better power supply will indeed allow a better amp. (obviously not getting really carried away though)