How much can a 5ga power cable support?

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=73147
Printed Date: May 22, 2024 at 5:40 PM

Topic: How much can a 5ga power cable support?

Posted By: davidh_r
Subject: How much can a 5ga power cable support?
Date Posted: February 19, 2006 at 10:11 PM

How much power can a 5ga power cable support? I have a 14ft 5ga cable and i want to know if it will support a kicker kx500.2 (500watts rms @ 4ohms mono) (i saw the power cable guide on this site but the chart didnt list 5ga)

Replies:

Posted By: dwarren
Date Posted: February 19, 2006 at 10:19 PM

It should be fine. Make sure to fuse it properly.

Are you going to use all 14 feet?

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Posted By: torquehead
Date Posted: February 21, 2006 at 10:23 PM

I didnt know this site had a power cable guide, guess Ill search for it. But, this is from Basic Car Audio and Electronics...aka (BCAE1.com)....when you load the site, scroll the right side down to where you see "Wire". Click it and there are several charts, check it out, pretty good and elaborate. Anyways, for what you supplied, heres what I got...Your result was all good, use it with no problem, however....fuse it correctly.

To calculate for wire sizes 00, 000 and 0000...

• 00 = -1
• 000 = -2
• 0000 = -3

Input
Wire Gauge?	< maxLength=10 size=10 value=5 name=wire_gauge>	(AWG)
Length of Wire?	< maxLength=10 size=10 value=14 name=wire_length1>	Feet
Total Amplifier Power?	< maxLength=10 size=10 value=500 name=total_power_output>	Watts
Amplifier Efficiency?	< maxLength=10 size=10 value=60 name=amplifier_efficiency>	%
Charging System Voltage?	< maxLength=10 size=10 value=14.4 name=battery_voltage>	Volts
< =program_volt_drop_1(volt_drop1.) = value=Calculate> < =reset value=Clear>
Output
Resistance/foot:	< maxLength=10 size=10 value=0.000315 name=resistance_circular_mil_foot>	Ohms
Total Resistance:	< maxLength=10 size=10 value=0.004405 name=resistance_total>	Ohms
Voltage Drop:	< maxLength=10 size=10 value=0.255 name=voltage_drop>	Volts
< name=voltage_drop_warning rows=3 wrap=on cols=40>
Current Flow:	< maxLength=10 size=10 value=57.9 name=current_flow>	Amps
Circular Mils:	< maxLength=10 size=10 value=32963 name=circular_mils>
< name=amps_per_circular_mils rows=3 wrap=on cols=40>
Power Drawn From Charging System:	< maxLength=10 size=10 value=833 name=power_draw>	Watts

Posted By: torquehead
Date Posted: February 21, 2006 at 10:25 PM

Uh...oops, hmm.....well, just take our word for it...your all good. Sorry.

Posted By: torquehead
Date Posted: February 21, 2006 at 10:41 PM

I have ADD and cant leave it alone! LOL We never actually answered your question. You asked "How much power can a 5ga power cable support?"

Answer: A 5AWG wire at 14ft. will support 950W RMS with an amplifier efficiency of 60% (usual), with the altenator running with 14.4VDC with a voltage drop of appx.0.484V. This the most extreme case for safety according to all calculations. This is the borderline power capability for 300 circular mils of wire per ampere. Temperature, insulation heat, wire oxidation, ect....are considered thereafter. Theres plenty to argue with if anyone wants to add to this...like I said, this is a safe/borderliine measurement. Ill leave everyone alone now.