Jeff: Help with amps? Please

I am in the process of installing some amps in an 03 avalanche. But not sure if the alt cant take it. I am buying a 200 amp alt. I have 4 amps 4 12's and 2 sets of 6.5 components. Here is the problem I have 2 memphis ar-hc100 high current amps and 2 ar-hc50 high current amps. The 100's are 1096x1 at 1 ohm and the 50's are 200x1 at 2 ohm. There are 2 12's on each hc100 and a pair of components on each hc50. But what size wire should I use for power. I was told to go by the fuse size of the amps, 80 amp for hc100 and 50 amp for the hc50. Is this right?

Really apreciate the help.......
HLthe1

For the wire gauage I suggest using 1 or 2 gauge from the battery to a distibution block and get a breaker type fuse rated at 150 - 200 amps. Do not go any higher because it will take more amperage to blow the breaker and this wil put your system at risk. Make sure that you also match the ground gauge to the power gauge.

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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA

I was going to use 0 guage to a distribution block and 4 guage to the 4 amps, but why 150 to 200 amp fuse. I was told that adding the sum of the fuses (260 amp) would give me the size fuse for the power line. Why a breaker type fuse, why not a anl fuse? So I should also need 4 guage ground to a block with a 0 guage ground, not just ground each seperately with 4 guage? I was told that these are high current and needed close to a 300 amp fuse. The hc100 is rated at 100x2 and the hc50 is 50x2 all at 4 ohms. These were none as memphis cheater amps, like the old competition autoteks.

Thanks
hlthe1

Someone please help answer my questions? I need to know....

Thanks
HLthe1

You do not want match the fuse rating because the fuse rating for the amps are peak levels that the amp can handle before the fuse blows. You want the fuse rating to be lower than the total combined amp rated fuses because you are trying to protect vehicles battery and electrical system so it's better to have a lower amp fuse so that it breaks at a lower amperage than risk the chance of a higher amp fuse and damaging the  vehicles battery and electrical system .

Having a breaker type system is good because all you have to do is press the reset button and flip the bar over and it's reset. Using an ANL fuse you have to remove the blown fuse and then reinstall the new one and then having to di this again after it blows. It's all about convenience.

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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA

I know you said it is to protect the electrical sysytem, but does it make a difference if it is a totally seperate electrical system? I have dual alternators in the vehicle, the 200 amp alt runs the second battery and the total audio system. The main electrical system runs the screens, neon, and radio along with the rest of the car normal electrical duties. So does this make a difference at all?

Thanks for all the info jeff.
HLthe1

Think of it this way, would you rather have the current blowing the fuses at the amp, or before it even gets to the amp? Most people would rather have any type of surge that can damage the amp or audio system be handled as far in advance as possible.

Even though you have your audio system isolated, you would still have to replace equipment if a surge went through that system and your main fuse/breaker was too high of an amperage to catch it. The rest of your car's electrical system might be fine, but your audio electronics could still be toast. And after spending the $'s that we all spend, it's a terrible thing to realize that a 50 amp difference in a $15 fuse/breaker could end up causing several hundreds of dollars in repairs!

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Squirrel
"No more Cpt. Kirk chit chat"
If its too loud, then you're too old
Donate to the12volt.com

Do you think that the 200 amp alternator is adequate for the this particular sub system or should I use a smaller size alt?

Bigger is always better, especially when your talking about amperage output.

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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA