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wire gauge size?


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gpappy 
Member - Posts: 7
Member spacespace
Joined: October 27, 2007
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Posted: October 27, 2007 at 6:57 PM / IP Logged  

I'm planning on running 2 x 300 watt sub amps and possibly a 4 channel amp in the near future for the front stage and rear.  I would like to run just one power cable from battery fuse block to a fused distribution block near the amps.  I have available a free supply of 6 awg stranded wire but I know thats not quite enough. What if I ran 2 or 3 runs of 6 awg together and tied the ends together.  Would this be comparable to say running one 2 awg cable or is there a formula for figuring this out?  I'm trying to save 40 or 50 bucks on wire and maybe this isn't the best way to go about it, but I'd like to hear what more experienced people than myself think about this idea?

Thanks!

haemphyst 
Platinum - Posts: 5,054
Platinum spaceThis member has been recognized as an authority in Electrical Theory. Click here for more info.spaceThis member has been recognized as an authority in Mobile Audio and Video. Click here for more info.spacespace
Joined: January 19, 2003
Location: Michigan, Bouvet Island
Posted: October 27, 2007 at 8:53 PM / IP Logged  
1. Yes you can do it.
2. EACH cable must be protected with it's own dedicated fuse, for the proper rating. DO NOT CONNECT THEM TO OR WITH A COMMON FUSE HOLDER.
3. To double a run will give you about 3 wire gauge steps up. Two #6 wires will be about the equivalent of a #3. Three runs will increase that about 1.5 steps more, so three #6 wires will be AROUND the current carrying capacity of a #2, maybe a little bit more.
Looking at the additional cost of fuses, connectors, the distro block, your time to terminate and run three cables, etc... you won't be saving much at all...
It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."
KPierson 
Platinum - Posts: 3,527
Platinum spaceThis member consistently provides reliable informationspace
Joined: April 14, 2005
Location: Ohio, United States
Posted: October 27, 2007 at 9:39 PM / IP Logged  
You can do it, but if you were following the NEC (which car audio is exempt from) it would be a code violation.   :)
Kevin Pierson
still_walkin 
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Joined: April 18, 2007
Location: California, United States
Posted: October 27, 2007 at 10:02 PM / IP Logged  
True thanks you all yeah fuses aren't that cheap .
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gpappy 
Member - Posts: 7
Member spacespace
Joined: October 27, 2007
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Posted: October 27, 2007 at 10:05 PM / IP Logged  
Good points to think about. Thanks guys for the help.

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