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Recommended Power, Ground, & Speaker Wire Size and Length
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To calculate the proper power and ground cable sizes, find the distance of the power cable
along the top row. If your measurement is between two measurements, use the higher one.
Next, find the total RMS power the cable must support on the left. If your measurement is between
two measurements, use the higher one. The size listed where your two measurements meet is the recommended
cable size.
* Note: These figures have been rounded off for easy reference.
Ground cables should be the same size (or larger) as the power cable. ** Current Draw figures are based
on RMS Power of the amplifier with a 50% efficiency rating.
*** Although wire gauge sizes smaller than 10 gauge may be acceptable for the amount of current draw, we recommend using 10 gauge as
the smallest wire size for any amplifier of 100 watts or more.
The goal is to provide as much current to the
amplifier as it could possibly need for optimal performance.
Also see:
• American Wire Gauge Sizes
See below for speaker wire size by load and distance. |
| Recommended Cable Size by Power and Distance |
Total RMS
Power (watts) |
Distance |
| 4 feet |
8 feet |
12 feet |
16 feet |
20 feet |
| 100 |
10 gauge |
10 gauge |
8 gauge |
8 gauge |
4 gauge |
| 200 |
10 gauge |
8 gauge |
8 gauge |
4 gauge |
4 gauge |
| 400 |
8 gauge |
8 gauge |
4 gauge |
4 gauge |
4 gauge |
| 600 |
8 gauge |
4 gauge |
4 gauge |
4 gauge |
4 gauge |
| 800 |
4 gauge |
4 gauge |
4 gauge |
2 gauge |
2 gauge |
| 1000 |
4 gauge |
4 gauge |
2 gauge |
2 gauge |
2 gauge |
| 1400 |
4 gauge |
2 gauge |
2 gauge |
2 gauge |
2 gauge |
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| Current Draw by Power |
Total RMS
Power (watts) |
Current
Amps |
| 100 |
16 |
| 200 |
32 |
| 400 |
64 |
| 600 |
96 |
| 800 |
128 |
| 1000 |
160 |
| 1200 |
172 |
| 1400 |
188 |
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| Power & Ground Cable Specs |
Cable Size
Wire Gauge |
Current Capacity
Amperage (amps) |
| 1/0 |
350 |
| 2 |
225 |
| 4 |
150 |
| 8 |
100 |
| 10 |
60 |
| 12 |
40 |
| 14 |
25 |
| 16 |
15 |
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| Recommended Speaker Wire Size by Load and Distance |
| Wire Size |
2 ohm load |
4 ohm load |
6 ohm load |
8 ohm load |
| 22 AWG |
3 feet max |
6 feet max |
9 feet max |
12 feet max |
| 20 AWG |
5 feet max |
10 feet max |
15 feet max |
20 feet max |
| 18 AWG |
8 feet max |
16 feet max |
24 feet max |
32 feet max |
| 16 AWG |
12 feet max |
24 feet max |
36 feet max |
48 feet max |
| 14 AWG |
20 feet max |
40 feet max |
60 feet** |
80 feet** |
| 12 AWG |
30 feet max |
60 feet** |
90 feet** |
120 feet** |
| 10 AWG |
50 feet max |
100 feet** |
150 feet** |
200 feet** |
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**Over 50 feet. Reference: Roger-Russell.com |
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