off-grid bluetooth sound systems
large, loud system:
components:
A) 12" Behringer passive speakers - $159.99 x 2
B) DROK 200w (100w x 2) 24v amplifier - $22.69
C) rechargeable bluetooth receiver - $15.99
D) 2x 12v 7ah lead acid batteries (smaller capacity and cheaper), or 2x 12v 12ah lead acid batteries (larger capacity and more expensive) in series (here's what that means) - $29.99 / $49.99
E) female spade connectors, for attaching to battery terminals (yellows for bridge connection, red for positive, blue for negative), crimped onto stripped ends of proper wires (here's how to crimp) (here's how to strip wire). - $10.98
F) cut-in-half (cut double-ended cable in half at the middle) speakon cable, with cut ends stripped and twisted - $12.92
G) 24v power adapter cable: cut off and stripped on output-end of block (not the side that plugs into the wall). Strip ends and crimp the positive (red) spade connector on the striped or red cable, and the negative (blue) spade connector on the black or un-striped cable. {See below) - $16.99
H) 3.5mm (aux) to RCA cable - $2.61
I) 10-guage wire with yellow spade connectors crimped on stripped ends - $12.99
J) plastic storage bin for components (nothing needs be outside of this bin except speakers and speakon cables coming out of bin, and possibly bluetooth receiver for signal strength) - $9.00
K) 12v battery charger (unplug batteries from other equipment--unplugging negative terminal last--and attach matching-color clips of charger to corresponding battery terminals) - $19.88
L) use velcro dots to adhere batteries, amp and bluetooth receiver to the plastic bin - $8.06
total cost: $482.08 / $502.08
a cheaper (but still great) design:
Here, we're swapping the large Behringer speakers (admittedly overkill for the specified amplifier) for smaller, and much cheaper bookshelf speakers. The result is still great, and involves the same setup, but with different speakers, and resultantly, different speaker wires (all reflected in the below instructions):
components:
A) 4-inch Micca MB42 Bookshelf Speakers - $64.99 for both
B) DROK 200w (100w x 2) 24v amplifier - $22.69
C) rechargeable bluetooth receiver - $15.99
D) 2x 12v 7ah lead acid batteries (smaller capacity and cheaper), or 2x 12v 12ah lead acid batteries (larger capacity and more expensive) in series (here's what that means) - $29.99 / $49.99
E) female spade connectors, for attaching to battery terminals (yellows for bridge connection, red for positive, blue for negative), crimped onto stripped ends of proper wires (here's how to crimp) (here's how to strip wire). - $10.98
F) two lengths of speaker wire, with ends stripped and twisted - $6.79
G) 24v power adapter cable: cut off and stripped on output-end of block (not the side that plugs into the wall). Strip ends and crimp the positive (red) spade connector on the striped or red cable, and the negative (blue) spade connector on the black or un-striped cable. {See below) - $16.99
H) 3.5mm (aux) to RCA cable - $2.61
I) 10-guage wire with yellow spade connectors crimped on stripped ends - $12.99
J) plastic storage bin for components (nothing needs be outside of this bin except speakers and speakon cables coming out of bin, and possibly bluetooth receiver for signal strength) - $9.00
K) 12v battery charger (unplug batteries from other equipment--unplugging negative terminal last--and attach matching-color clips of charger to corresponding battery terminals) - $19.88
L) use velcro dots to adhere batteries, amp and bluetooth receiver to the plastic bin - $8.06
total cost: $220.96 / $240.96
very powerful (and heavy) system
A) 12" Behringer passive speakers - $159.99 x 2
B) rechargeable bluetooth receiver - $15.99
C) 1500w car amplifier (you must turn low-pass switch OFF, and turn 'level' dial all the way up) - $96.57
D) 100 amp hour deep-cycle 12v battery - $159.95
E) spliced 4-gauge jumper cables - $18.29
F) cut-in-half (cut double-ended cable in half at the middle) speakon cable, with cut ends stripped and twisted - $12.92
G) small bit of wire to bridge between 12v positive and the remote input of amplifier - $4.76
H) 3.5mm (aux) to RCA cable - $2.61
I) use velcro dots to adhere amp to side of battery - $8.06
J) 12v battery charger (unplug batteries from other equipment--unplugging negative terminal last--and attach matching-color clips of charger to corresponding battery terminals) - $19.88
total cost: $659.01