2 amps and fuses to battery install?
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=57991
Printed Date: April 27, 2024 at 2:56 PM
Topic: 2 amps and fuses to battery install?
Posted By: stillfading
Subject: 2 amps and fuses to battery install?
Date Posted: June 18, 2005 at 3:43 PM
Already have a 4 channel amp installed for my speakers.
Headunit has 4 preamp outputs
I have a dual voice coil sub waiting to be hooked up to a mono amp that are both uninstalled.
I bought a wiring kit for the new amp and sub with all the basic stuff.
How do I wire the new amp to my sub and everything? I can't just do it like the other amp can I? Is it safe to have 2 fuses connected to the battery? Can I even do that? I dont want to bridge the amps, just need the new one wired for my sub.
Do I need a distribution block? My friend said I need a splitter of some sort so I dont have 2 fuses connected to my battery. What's the easiest route to go?
Replies:
Posted By: dwarren
Date Posted: June 18, 2005 at 4:07 PM
Correct me if I am wrong but I don't believe using two properly fused leads for two seperate amps off of one battery is bad.
It may not look as good as taking a larger gauge cable to a fuse distro. block near the bat to smaller leads, but that requires more.
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Posted By: stillfading
Date Posted: June 18, 2005 at 4:21 PM
I wanted to know the safest route to go, safe as in power wise. I already have my amp wiring kit and would have to buy a distribution block or would I need something else to split the 2 amps near the battery??
Posted By: Blowntweeters
Date Posted: June 18, 2005 at 5:01 PM
i don't see why you cant wire two fuse's and powerleads off of your battery what gauge wire do you have running now?
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1974 ford pinto 4 15" punch Z power punch bd 1001 pioneer DEH-6700
Posted By: Alpine Guy
Date Posted: June 18, 2005 at 5:37 PM
theres no problem with haveing 2 power wires, but its alot of un needed electrical hazzards. I reccomemd a proper power wire capable of handleing your amps, and a fused distrobution block to split the power to your amps.
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2003 Chevy Avalanche,Eclipse CD7000,Morel Elate 5,Adire Extremis,Alpine PDX-4.150, 15" TC-3000, 2 Alpine PDX-1.1000, 470Amp HO Alt.
Posted By: 91rsliberty
Date Posted: June 18, 2005 at 7:59 PM
2 cables and fuses are fine but your better off getting one larger guage power cable with one fuse at the battery ( to the value of all the fuses on both you amps ) then run to where you have the amps (boot?) get a fused distribution block and run to each amp with correct fusing in each also looks better and more serious having huge cable running thru your engine bay  Phil
Posted By: stillfading
Date Posted: June 19, 2005 at 10:13 AM
i think i might go the distribution block route
My 4 channel amp wiring is 8 AWG
My mono amp wiring is 4 AWG
So for the distribution block, I would need it to have what exactly?
Input: 2 slots for 8 and 4 AWG wire
Output: 1 slot for 2 AWG wire
Input is the wire coming from my amp, correct? Output is what is going to connect to my battery? I'd probably run 2 AWG to my battery, as that should be plenty.
I would have to get a new fuse as well to handle both amps if i get a distr. block? I'm running 70 RMS x 4 for my speakers and gonna be running 1200 x 1 for my sub.
Where do I mount the block?
Posted By: Jay T
Date Posted: June 20, 2005 at 11:59 AM
Two properly fused connections at the battery are fine. But yes you are better off running one large wire to a Distro block. There are even some nice ones with LED voltage displays as well. You can mount the block anywhere near the your amps and just tie in the necessary wire to power your amps individually. The block will only need one input for the wire from the battery. and Two outputs for the wire that will power your amps. Most come with at least 4 outputs. some fuse each branch individually so you don't lose power on both amps if you encounter a problem. I'll refer you to the section on the left hand side of the site: Under "Car Audio" select "Power and Ground" These charts will give you an idea of what size wire you'll need to get to the block and then to the amps. A very rough way of determining what size wire you'll need is to see what fuses your amps are rated for then select a wire size that handles the sum of the two amps. The same goes for the Battery end fuse, wire one in that has the rating you need while not over exceding the current you'll be drawing by too much. Getting a fused distro block just adds extra safety. (recomended) Don't forget that your Ground wire needs to be at least as big or bigger than the power wire your using for the amps. Good Luck
Posted By: stillfading
Date Posted: June 20, 2005 at 2:43 PM
Ok so i'll need to get then:
distribution block
2 AWG wire for my input wire
New fuse that can handle the power of both amps
I've referred to that chart many times in choosing which amp kits to get, I already have my 8 AWG amp installed and for my sub amp I have my 4 AWG kit ready to be. Now I'll have to search for the 2 AWG wire and a fuse that can handle 280 watts from 1 amp (for speakers) and 1200 watts from the other amp (for sub)
when choosing a fuse, do i look up watts value or ??? ahhh trying to learn is difficult!
Posted By: stillfading
Date Posted: June 20, 2005 at 2:55 PM
ah.
my 1st amp has a fuse rating of 25x3 = 75
my 2nd amp has a fuse rating of 40x3 = 120
so the fuse i will need has to provide 195 or higher so i can push 1400+ watts to my total system
Posted By: stillfading
Date Posted: June 20, 2005 at 6:18 PM
it's so hard to find a distribution block with a 2 AWG input, everything is 1/0 AWG or 4 AWG... i'll probably just go with an 1/0 AWG input then, i dont think it'll hurt anything
Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: June 21, 2005 at 5:40 PM
Probably less expensive than a 1/0 cable, and easier to run as well, would be 2 #4 cables. Equivalent to a #1 cable, with 300A currrent carrying capacity, it's easier to run, too. Goes under carpet without a big ol' bulge... What I'd do, (Oh, wait - I mean *WHAT I DID DO*) would be get a battery terminal with 2 #4 outputs - they're everywhere... run two #4 cables to your distribution block (which will likely have 3 #4 holes in it, right? - this'll also leave a place for you to attach your cap, if you have one) and connect them both to the same distro block. Smaller fuse holders, less expensive blade fuses (or even a couple of 120A glass fuses and fuseholders under the hood) Distribute the current demands over two cables, less loss, less money, less effort to install, I mean, where's the decision?
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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."
Posted By: stillfading
Date Posted: June 21, 2005 at 6:45 PM
I found 1/0 gauge wire for like $3 a foot, i wont need more than 2 feet most likely, i'll just have it near the front of my car. I like sounddomain's selection of 1/0" blocks, plus in the future if I upgrade my system, I'll already have the 1/0" block and wires. I liked your way but I really want 2 AWG or 1/0 AWG, I'll be getting a new fuse and fuse holder as well, since I believe my current amp is already underpowered fuse wise and I have my own problems with it. Here's what I'm looking at buying:
distribution block (1/0 AWG input, and at least 2 outputs - 1 for 4 AWG, 1 for 8 AWG)
fuse (has to be at least 195 amps and i want it ANL platinum plated)
fuse holder (i want it platinum eventhough it's more expensive and it has to be ANL and accept 1/0 AWG)
1/0 AWG wiring
Shouldnt be more than $50 with shipping, I could do it a lot cheaper and a different way, but i think i'm stickin with this
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