Kicker Key 200.4 Questions

[Jeremyray25]

I have a 22 F150 XLT with the base stereo system (Not b/o). I have already made some forscan changes to flatten the eq and make center speaker tweeter only.



Yesterday I ordered the kicker key 200.4 to power my door speakers.



Planning ahead for the install I have a few questions.



I have a pac lphfd31 harness that I plan to use to connect to factory headset.



First question:

Where is everyone mounting this amp in the 21+ f150s? Glove box, under steering wheel, etc. what’s the best location? Any pictures or instructions are welcomed.



Second question:

I’m reading for best results I should run power to battery. Should I also run ground to battery as well. If so, I just connect ground to negative battery terminal, correct?

Besides these questions, any other things to consider or work out with this install?

Thank you in advance for your help.

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[Riddick]

I do not have a kicker key yet but I have also been researching it and plan on buying one On the 21+ f-150s there are quite a few people who mount theirs behind the glove box. You will have to trim a small portion on the glove box but it should be minimal.

While you could run power and ground wires directly off the battery there are cleaner/more efficient ways. I would recommend getting your 12V from the fuse box located on the passenger side under the hood. For your ground there should be a bolt either on the firewall or somewhere behind the glove box you can use. Generally, I have always tried to keep my ground wires close to the amp.

Keep us updated, I'm curious how your install goes. While I plan on getting one it will probably be months down the road.

 

[Jeb536]

 

[EcoBeastCA]

While you could run power and ground wires directly off the battery there are cleaner/more efficient ways. I would recommend getting your 12V from the fuse box located on the passenger side under the hood. For your ground there should be a bolt either on the firewall or somewhere behind the glove box you can use. Generally, I have always tried to keep my ground wires close to the amp.

Yeah, don't follow any of this.

Firstly, the KEY is a 200W amp. 200W / 13.8VDC = 14.5A (so fused at 20A). Not the sort of current you should be tapping off a fuse box.

Secondly, these trucks are glued together making for poor electrical continuity from cab to chassis, and resistance of the ground changes as you drive and the body flexes. Amps don't like that.

Just do this, it's easy, hardly "unclean" or "inefficient", and going through the passenger side puts the wiring right under your glove box anyway.

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/thr...rewall-from-engine-bay-to-interior-cab.28976/

 

[Riddick]

Yeah, don't follow any of this.

Firstly, the KEY is a 200W amp. 200W / 13.8VDC = 14.5A (so fused at 20A). Not the sort of current you should be tapping off a fuse box.

Secondly, these trucks are glued together making for poor electrical continuity from cab to chassis, and resistance of the ground changes as you drive and the body flexes. Amps don't like that.

Just do this, it's easy, hardly "unclean" or "inefficient", and going through the passenger side puts the wiring right under your glove box anyway.

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/thr...rewall-from-engine-bay-to-interior-cab.28976/

I was not advising the OP to tee into a fuse. There are power wires that enter and exit the actual fuse box you can use.

 

[Fordphanatic]

I would pull my 12V power with in line fuse directly from my battery. There's to much variation in voltage throughout the truck. Amplifiers require constant uninterrupted power from the Battery.

 

[TexasTruck]

Where is everyone mounting this amp in the 21+ f150s? Glove box,

Certainly many possibilities, I installed mine in the glove box. You have to trim about 1/2" off the back of the glove box (soft plastic cuts easily) to clear the back edge of the Key as you close the glove box.

I’m reading for best results I should run power to battery. Should I also run ground to battery as well. If so, I just connect ground to negative battery terminal, correct?

Correct. I ran 10 awg positive and negative from the battery. At 12 volts that's roughly 360 watts (roughly 30 amps for 10 awg wire). There is a body plug on the inside fender just below the side fender vent. It's a bit more involved to remove the side fender vent, but makes getting power from the battery to inside the cab/glove box area nice and neat IMO.

Hope this helps.

 

[Jeremyray25]

Certainly many possibilities, I installed mine in the glove box. You have to trim about 1/2" off the back of the glove box (soft plastic cuts easily) to clear the back edge of the Key as you close the glove box.

Correct. I ran 10 awg positive and negative from the battery. At 12 volts that's roughly 360 watts (roughly 30 amps for 10 awg wire). There is a body plug on the inside fender just below the side fender vent. It's a bit more involved to remove the side fender vent, but makes getting power from the battery to inside the cab/glove box area nice and neat IMO.

Hope this helps.

What tool did you use to trim the glove box?

 

[TexasTruck]

What tool did you use to trim the glove box?

Just a regular ole' utility knife. Just make sure you have a brand new blade and use blue tape to outline where you want to cut. You don't need to remove that much and only need to clear the Key is all.

 

[ThumperF150]

I was told there is room behind the factory head unit to mount the Key. Is this not true?

 

[Jersey devil]

I was told there is room behind the factory head unit to mount the Key. Is this not true?

There is space there to mount it but 2 things to consider. The first is that there's little airflow there to keep the amp cool and more importantly you'll loose access to the adjustments on the kicker when you want to "tweak" the settings.

 

[ThumperF150]

There is space there to mount it but 2 things to consider. The first is that there's little airflow there to keep the amp cool and more importantly you'll loose access to the adjustments on the kicker when you want to "tweak" the settings.

Thank you

 

[EcoBeastCA]

I was not advising the OP to tee into a fuse. There are power wires that enter and exit the actual fuse box you can use.

I'm very curious how this qualifies as "cleaner/more efficient"; which wire should be used, exactly?

 

[ak49rzrs]

I'm with you, I have so many questions and am curious also. If it's tapping into wires that provide power to existing electrical components that's brave, especially in these newer vehicles.

 

[Zyvin]

Jeez.

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