Nanda,
I did a pretty big audio/video upgrade (two amps/DVD/Playstation) and I didn't notice any difference in mpg.

The biggest factory for me personally was just in my driving habits. I have 200k on my Hybrid and I get 44mpg if I take it easy and keep it around 65 mph on the freeway.

 

If you do connect the Amp to your battery make sure you have an electrical fuse in between.

I made a small hole through the firewall to get to the battery and ran the wires down the side of my car. If you take off the rear seats you can find a few holes to run the wires to your trunk.

Good luck. I hope this helps

 

Where did you make the hole in the firewall? I don't see an obviously safe place.

Thanks!

 

I found an grommet near the lower center slightly towards the passenger side of the firewall. It's a bit tough to find.

I ran the wires through the center console because I have amps under both front seats.

Hope this helps.

-Dan

 

I pulled up a picture. I installed my stereo over five years ago so my memory is pretty fuzzy. Don't mind the Bud handle, but the grommet was kind of near the red arrow in the image

 

Wow thanks for the tip and the photo! After considering it more, i realized that for a hybrid the power source isn't the alternator up front, but it's the inverter that's behind the back seat- about 2 ft from where my powered subwoofer is! I plan to tie into there but didn't have time to pull out the back seat. I temporarily ran power under the fender lip near the windshield and into the passenger doer.

 

I'm new at this but here's a pic from the manual of the inverter terminal.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/76376534/ca...05%2023.23.jpg

 

Im not sure about the inverter behind the back seat but typically your aftermarket audio setup would be to run a low gauge wire from your battery in the hood (thats what I have) to your amps. Obviously you would want a fuse in between the amp and battery as well as a distribution block if you're running more than one amp.

Here's actually a good schematic:
http://a248.e.akamai.net/pix.crutchf...ng_diagram.gif

I didnt touch the battery behind the rear seat, because it had a scary warning death sticker on it

I never did get a chance to post the final product so here it is...

 

Oh I thought that was the final product! LOL. I've worked on nuclear power plants and particle acceleration the size of a football field. Scary labels just tell me where they hid the good stuff ;-) It's only 170v, which is about what house wiring is on peaks, and certainly less than 220v. Of course there's more than just the voltage to be scared of, so don't let my humor get anyone cocky. All I'm messing with is the 12v wiring, which is the same wiring that connects to the 12v battery (a pretty scary thing itself and no doubt many more have been injured from that than an hybrid battery)


I have most of the factory wiring diagrams (including the scary stuff) if you need.

 

I'd like to request the diagrams and scary stuff please (: