two 8ga = 4ga?
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=37455
Printed Date: April 28, 2024 at 5:05 PM
Topic: two 8ga = 4ga?
Posted By: robb420in323
Subject: two 8ga = 4ga?
Date Posted: August 15, 2004 at 9:44 PM
if u were to run two 8ga power cables from the distro block , would it equal 2 a 4ga??? im sure i would have to use 2 fuses at half the value of the origional.. will this blow fuses or not work as efficeintly as it sounds on paper..(screen) ------------- Hunter S. Thompson for sheriff
Replies:
Posted By: jeffchilcott
Date Posted: August 15, 2004 at 10:21 PM
2 8 guage wires would equal a 4 guage wire, but it is more efficent to run a single 4 guage and normally provides more consistant power
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Posted By: oldsbravo5
Date Posted: August 15, 2004 at 10:45 PM
I would definately not recommend it. Your just creating accidents waiting to happen. Is there a certain reason that you need 8 guage?
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Bravadas are cool
Posted By: cd2478
Date Posted: August 15, 2004 at 11:07 PM
run one 4 gauge to a dist block, and then distribute to 8ga cables towards both of your amps..:-) just keep in mind if your amp needs min 4g cable then this is not a good idea.
Posted By: MBZ oe
Date Posted: August 15, 2004 at 11:41 PM
If you have a ton of 8 ga around then just double them up, twist them together and solder them at each end, and use one 4ga fuseblock or circuit breaker. It will be the same. I would not recommend the 2 fuse thing at all.
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BOOM, BOOM, BOOM BOOM....
Posted By: cd2478
Date Posted: August 16, 2004 at 12:06 AM
it would be cleaner/easier and tidier to just buy some 4g cable ;)
Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: August 16, 2004 at 12:57 AM
Actually NO!!!!! ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! Two 8 gauge cables are NOT equivalent to a 4 gauge cable. Two #8's are roughly equal to a #5, which has about 25% LESS current carrying capacity than a #4.
#8=16484mcm (mil circular mils)
#7=20770mcm
#6=26170mcm
#5=32974mcm
#4=41548mcm
#3=52350mcm
#2=65961mcm
#1=83111mcm
#0=104720mcm
As you can see you have about three steps between a pair of wires, to equal double the size, meaning you would need to use THREE number 8 wires to equal (or exceed) the wire capacity of a number 4.
Personally, I would say go ahead and run the two 8's, but you are not going to get the same ampacity as a number 4 power cable(which can be safely fused at 150A). So all I am saying is make certain you are not going to exceed the current rating of the two number 8 cables (which would be 100A).
I use two number 4 power cables with dedicated 100A fuses from my battery to the trunk (and yes they DO connect to a common power distribution block). I get the ampacity of a number 1 cable (262A, for a .5v drop), without even getting CLOSE to the cost of a number 1 cable, but installing a number 4 cable, which is hella easier than a number 1.
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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."
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