running wires correctly?
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=107410
Printed Date: April 24, 2024 at 5:01 PM
Topic: running wires correctly?
Posted By: twobig86
Subject: running wires correctly?
Date Posted: September 13, 2008 at 5:06 PM
Ok so I am about to wire my car and I have heard a couple different things from different people on the proper way to wire your car. I have to run a 0 guage power wire, remote lead wire, 4 sets of speaker wire and 3 rca's I have been told that the power wire should be run on the opposite side of the car as the rca's is this true? If yes why? I have also been told that since the remote lead wire has a voltage that it should also be run along side the 0 guage. Is this true? basically lets just say im running the 0 guage power wire down the left side of the car, which wires from the above list will run down the left and which down the right. ex. Right side Power wire remote lead wire Left side Rca's Lastly does it matter if your speaker wire runs along side power wire? or should the wire from the front right be run to the left side before it is run through the car. Thanks
Replies:
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: September 13, 2008 at 7:10 PM
You can run the entire bundle of wires down the same side of the car.
Posted By: basketthis69
Date Posted: September 13, 2008 at 9:28 PM
twobig86 wrote:
Ok so I am about to wire my car and I have heard a couple different things from different people on the proper way to wire your car.
I have to run a 0 guage power wire, remote lead wire, 4 sets of speaker wire and 3 rca's
I have been told that the power wire should be run on the opposite side of the car as the rca's is this true? If yes why?
I have also been told that since the remote lead wire has a voltage that it should also be run along side the 0 guage. Is this true?
basically lets just say im running the 0 guage power wire down the left side of the car, which wires from the above list will run down the left and which down the right.
ex.
Right side
Power wire
remote lead wire
Left side
Rca's
Lastly does it matter if your speaker wire runs along side power wire? or should the wire from the front right be run to the left side before it is run through the car.
Thanks
If you run RCAs and power on the same side it could cause feedback/engine noise or other unwanted sounds. If you are running a 4 channel, I suggest you run the power wire down one side (and maybe the remote) and the other wires down the other side at the very least. I have never had problems with that setup.  If it's a sub amp (mono or 2-channel usually), you don't need to worry as you should not hear any engine noise or feedback coming from your sub. Make sure to get a good ground though. This is very important!! Without a good ground everything will sound like crap and possibly not work properly. And, as always, consider doing "The big 3". GL! ------------- Installer for life.
Posted By: twobig86
Date Posted: September 13, 2008 at 10:03 PM
Perfect thanks alot. Going to be doing the big 3 before I start pounding the system. Getting the bumped up alternator installed this wed.
Posted By: goaheadandh8me
Date Posted: September 13, 2008 at 11:35 PM
i have to agree that u should avoid any wire or source of high current with regard to your rca's. speaker wire with them is ok in my experience though. big three and good amp grounds deffinately.
-------------
josh
Posted By: audiocableguy
Date Posted: September 14, 2008 at 1:29 PM
"You can run the entire bundle of wires down the same side of the car"
I'm with "I am". Never had a problem running everything together except for space under moldings/carpet.
Posted By: n2ixk
Date Posted: September 16, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Routing low level signal wiring away from high current power wiring is standard practice when dealing with AC power systems. The alternating current in the power wires can induce voltages into the signal wiring, resulting in hum, distortion, or other problems.
Because you are dealing with DC current in vehicle power wiring, the problem of induced currents is greatly reduced.
Posted By: snotdobbs
Date Posted: September 16, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Ii must agree that i have not had a noise problem from running all the wires together. Worst problem I have run into doing that is hiding the whole bundle.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: September 16, 2008 at 11:06 PM
In 35 years in the business I have never seen a single case where power wires cause enough interference into signal wires to cause a problem. Run the wiring where it works out best for the installation. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: reax222
Date Posted: September 17, 2008 at 1:51 AM
I believe in the MECP book they recommend at least 6" of space between the power and signal wires.
I have had issue with other signals, most notably my CB. Barefoot when my coax was close to the RCAs I could hear myself over the speakers. With my linear, it was much louder. After that, I have just make it common that I run power on the left side, CB in the middle and RCAs on the right.
Posted By: n2ixk
Date Posted: September 17, 2008 at 6:21 AM
A CB signal (ESPECIALLY one coming out of a linear amp!) is a completely different beast compared to a high current DC power cable.
I wouldn't run a transmitter output near ANYTHING else, power or signal level. In the case of poorly shielded coax cable (most of what CBers use usually is) or an even slightly high VSWR on the transmission line, you can have high signal levels on the coax shield, which will radiate right into whatever is nearby.
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