Amp Wiring

[Mr_4.0]

what dort of watts is needed to warrant the use of 4 gauge wiring??

and what watts will 8 guage handle comfortably???


Cheers guys..

[EFFalcon]

i went 4 guage with 80 amp fuses, which is good to about 130amp.
8 guage is only good for about 70amp

[illusivedreams]

8g will comfortably run 2 amps 500w+1000W.....To be honest the figure is probably alot higher than that...4g is a little of an overkill...

I worked in Strathfield car radios and very rarely we went higher than 4g apart from the setup we did with 2 15inch solarbaricks (the rear window popped out i **** you not)

Back to it....i just did a setup in a mates astina......

8g cable 2way bridged 500w for sub 750w for speakers..no problems or heating of cable...

Spend the extra $100 on capacitator and an $200 Odyssey battery than 4/2g cables..

NOTE: use good RCA cables double insulted or better ...Otherwise engine noice here you come.....Your cables should cost at least $50 per RCA...or better :eclipsee_ Just my suggestion form my experiences.......
Lastly ground cable should not exceed 60cm if possible less...

Cheers ...Im preparing my setup as we speak.

Alpine 9833
Alpine Spx 6.5inch Splits F1 status (300w per channel max 75W rated 600w150w)
Kenwood 400w amp For F1's

Unknow amp for sub (around 700w)
Clarion 12inch sub 600w

8Gauge power cable
XXXXX

There is more but Im too tired so have agood night I will post some pics in near future

[EFFalcon]

IMO you should base your wiring choice on what fuses you run.
to get an accurate idea of how much current your amp is actually needing you need to consider the fuses.

mine has 2 x 40amp fuses, so i use a single 80amp fuse.
i'm getting a 2nd amp that has a 40amp fuse, so i'll be using a 120amp fuse.

let us know what fuses you've got then its easier to work out what wire you need.
my system is FAR from big.

peak power ratings from amp are near useless too :|

[illusivedreams]

I agree about the Peak power ratings being useless....
But 4 gauge is not my cup off tea...

I see wiring kits rate at 600w and 1500w all using the same 8 gauge wires


Do what you think is right and what the accountant says you can do :

[santoitaliano]

give us an idea on what you are trying to run...

im running about 710wrms through 4g.... that is 4 channels @ 60wrms + mono block @ 470wrms...

cant hurt to go heavier... 4g pretty easy to run.. 0g gets difficult

[Mr_4.0]

well im running 2x800w monoblocks which power 2x1400w 15" subs. im also running a 2farad capacitor. there are two fuses per amp and they are 30amps each fuse. my fuse in my engine bay is 60amp(pretty sure). and all this is run by 8g wiring. except one of my earths is 4g. would it really be worth upgrading to 4g all round? and will i then have to change the size of any of the fuses???


thanks guys.

[EFFalcon]

if i'm reading that right you have a total of 120amp at the amps? (4 x 30amp fuses)
you're obviously not pushing your system to its potential if its all going through a 60amp fuse, idealy you'd need a 120amp fuse and 4 guage wiring.

unless you're running multiple power wires?

two 8 gauge would be ok (one per amp) or a single 4guage.

[Mr_4.0]

my power wire is 8 guage from the battery then to the capacitor, then to a distrubution block where it splits into 2 8g power wires and into the amps.

[CaRtZ]

i have 4 guage running 700wRMS, my mate runs a 560w max amp on 8 guage easy

[illusivedreams]

Look 4 gauge cant hirt... I suppose bigger is better in this case...

Although with the setup you mentioned above a 4gauge is in order...

[Mr_4.0]

so with the 4g, what fuse size should i run in the engine bay??

[Mr_4.0]

and why do my amps have 2 30amp fuses each?? wouldnt it be better (and easier) for the company who makes them to put one 60Amp fuse there???

[Gunns]

you would be needing 120amp fuse

[EFFalcon]

Originally Posted by Mr_4.0

and why do my amps have 2 30amp fuses each?? wouldnt it be better (and easier) for the company who makes them to put one 60Amp fuse there???

30 amp fuses are a lot cheaper then 60amp fuses.

as Gunns said, engine bay would require 120amp fuse, but i wouldn't put it in until you've got 4 guage.

[Mr_4.0]

so is it safe at the moment? i mean....if it wasnt, a fuse would blow right??

[EFFalcon]

correct, the current wiring is rated higher then the fuse.
so if anything is going to blow it'll be the fuse.

[Mr_4.0]

thanks guys for the advice, much appreciated

Cheers

[old_mate]

as stated above, the fuse is there to protect the wiring. If you system will draw 70 amps, get as close to a 70 amp fuse as possible (i'd run a 60. Very seldom do i have my gains maxed, and the volume up full belt). Working out what cabling u need using max power ratings of amps is probably the least preffered method (if it can be considered a method at all). Easiest way really is look at the amps internal fuses, add them and go that way. Otherwise, it a matter of working out what watts RMS its capable of, into what impedance (ie a amp driving 4ohm would use half the current of one into 2ohm). 8ga is rated to 65/70 amps, 4ga to 140 and 0ga to about 350

illuive dreams....not sure about a 'capacitator'. Although, it is Strathfield so who knows lol. I am still yet to be convinced about the benefits of a capacitor myself, but anywhom...

you grounds should always be as big, if not bigger than the power cable. Make sure the earth has the best connection the body (ie, remove the paint!)

engine bay fuse should be as close to battery as possible. Its also much safer to individually fuse any wires that are running to a distro block, that way if one amp dies (or something else happens) you blow that fuse only and the whole system isnt isolated.

Bigger is better IMHO. It may be overkill, but the bigger you go the more you can add onto it before you need to upgrade again. Its also best to upgrade you battery earth to a similar guage as the power lead for your amps

[TIKFD6]

8gauge is actually rated at 56 Amps, 4gauge is about 110a, and 2gauge is about 200.
You should put in a fuse that is going to protect your wiring, not the other way around.
if the cable is rated at 56A, use a 50A fuse, thatway the fuse will blow before the wiring gets a chance to heat up.

[Mr_4.0]

fair call

[old_mate]

Is that the jaycar ratings on the wire they sell? I thought stinger had a marginally higher amp rating per guage

the 8guage i use at work is rated to 95amps!