Too Large of wiring, Possible?
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=75623
Printed Date: May 04, 2024 at 4:06 AM
Topic: Too Large of wiring, Possible?
Posted By: bestbuy207
Subject: Too Large of wiring, Possible?
Date Posted: April 03, 2006 at 12:40 PM
I had a question that was brought up to me that I thought was a no brainer but as I thought about it..I wanted to know more:
is it possible to have too LARGE of power/ground wiring for any amp? Example: Putting a 1/0 awg wire (with the appropriate fuse size for the amp) on a 200w amp...is that anything but just overkill? Is it ACTUALLY harmful/potentially hazardous? I would never do this but just in general, is it possible to go too LARGE on wire size? Please let me know if so..and most importantly, WHY?
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MECP Certified Installer for Best Buy (for over 2 years)
Replies:
Posted By: arrow12
Date Posted: April 03, 2006 at 1:00 PM
I don't believe you can go too large on wire size. The amplifier only draws what it needs so larger wire would make it a lot easier on the amplifier. If the wire has the capability to carry more amps than what the amplifier needs, then the amplifier will only pull what it needs and not the extra. I hope that wasn't confusing. ------------- That's my opinion. Take it, leave it, or correct me.
Posted By: Big Dog
Date Posted: April 03, 2006 at 1:04 PM
There is no such thing as overkill when it comes to car audio!!!! However, there is a logical limit where adding an extra strand or thousand strands to a certain gauge no longer makes a noticable difference or practical sense. Don't forget to beef up the OEM grounds to match the B+ harness - an unfortunate oversite by many. Re-read your MECP studies where they explain voltage drop and relationships between conductor diameter/length/resistance. ------------- Prepare your future. It wasn't the lack of stones that killed the stone age.
Posted By: electrostatic
Date Posted: April 03, 2006 at 1:10 PM
more expensive for sure! but certainly not harmful.
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Prove your connections, use a meter!
I promise, I'll behave!
Posted By: bestbuy207
Date Posted: April 03, 2006 at 1:32 PM
excellent, thank you guys
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MECP Certified Installer for Best Buy (for over 2 years)
Posted By: firstrax
Date Posted: April 03, 2006 at 2:52 PM
The only instance I can think of where wire guage can be too big is high frequency signals. Higher than you will ever see in car audio.
Posted By: dwarren
Date Posted: April 03, 2006 at 3:24 PM
firstrax wrote:
The only instance I can think of where wire guage can be too big is high frequency signals. Higher than you will ever see in car audio.
What are you talking about? -------------
Posted By: electrostatic
Date Posted: April 03, 2006 at 3:55 PM
[QUOTE=firstrax] The only instance I can think of where wire guage can be too big is high frequency signals. Higher than you will ever see in car audio. please, explain. ------------- Prove your connections, use a meter!
I promise, I'll behave!
Posted By: dstang24
Date Posted: April 03, 2006 at 6:16 PM
He's probably talking about wires such as those used in High speed data communication. i.e. CAT V.
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Team Edge Audio
Posted By: firstrax
Date Posted: April 03, 2006 at 7:16 PM
electrostatic wrote:
firstrax wrote:
The only instance I can think of where wire Guage can be too big is high frequency signals. Higher than you will ever see in car audio.
please, explain.
When the cross section of the conductor is significantly larger than the wavelength the signal can travel back and forth across the wire and double back on itself causing attenuation. Like standing waves in an enclosure but with much smaller wiggles. But you have to get into the gigahertz to get that effect.
Posted By: Steven Kephart
Date Posted: April 03, 2006 at 7:29 PM
That does sound logical, but it is making a huge assumption. It assumes that electricity flows through copper like soundwaves flow through air. Electrons flow in the direction it is being pushed. It doesn't double back on itself or it wouldn't be called DC.
Posted By: firstrax
Date Posted: April 03, 2006 at 8:07 PM
Steven Kephart wrote:
That does sound logical, but it is making a huge assumption. It assumes that electricity flows through copper like soundwaves flow through air. Electrons flow in the direction it is being pushed. It doesn't double back on itself or it wouldn't be called DC.
Correct! I should have clarified that DC was out of the picture. Very high frequencies do travel through a conductor in a similar manner to the way sound travels through air.
Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: April 03, 2006 at 8:20 PM
For the purposes of this car audio forum, we should try to keep answers along the right track! A larger gauge wire is a cooler wire. Period. ------------- Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.
Posted By: Big Dog
Date Posted: April 03, 2006 at 8:40 PM
. . . and as a retailer more dough!  ------------- Prepare your future. It wasn't the lack of stones that killed the stone age.
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