confused on size of power and ground wire
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=80279
Printed Date: July 03, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Topic: confused on size of power and ground wire
Posted By: azrapse
Subject: confused on size of power and ground wire
Date Posted: July 13, 2006 at 10:50 PM
I have viewed the Recommended cable size for Power chart but am confused on one thing.When using a distribution block, does the total feet of the wire include the wire from the battery to the block ,AND the wire from the amps to the block? Or do I start over from the block to the amps? I have an Absolute pro series amplifier (purchased before joining the 12 Volt and actually learning a little bit about car audio) that is 1800 watts peak but i am not sure what the RMS is, it has (3) 25A fuses, and an Eclipse EA4000 which is 75W RMS x 4 I have the Absolute in the trunk and the Eclipse underneath the passenger seat, I want to put the block in the trunk and power the amps from there. I know the majority are against Caps, but will a cap help me at all? maybe save me from buying thicker gauge? What size gauge is good for speakers? If anything is unclear please let me know . Any help or advice is greatly welcomed and appreciated,, Thanks 12 volt
Replies:
Posted By: aznboi3644
Date Posted: July 13, 2006 at 11:53 PM
Well what gauge wires are you running?? from battery to dist block?? from block to amps??
Upgrading the big three is cheap and will help a lot more than a capacitor can.
As for speaker wire...no need to go overboard...16 or 18 gauge will do fine.
If you could list the model number of the amp we could try to look up the specs for you.
Posted By: azrapse
Date Posted: July 14, 2006 at 12:27 AM
I guess I didnt make my question clear, right now I have 4 gauge running to the Absolute , the Eclipse isnt even mounted yet, Im going to install an alternator that I had beefed up to 160 as well as the Eclipse, and upgrade the big 3 in the process this weekend, the question i was trying to ask was if 4 gauge was enough to run from the battery to the distribution block that will be in the trunk, to the Eclipse that will be underneath the passenger seat? I was thinking of running all 4 gauge, do I need to go thicker from the battery to the block? Im unsure does the total of feet = from the battery to the block+from the block to the amp?
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: July 14, 2006 at 12:43 AM
Considering that the sub amp is going to be the current hungry power monster as compared to the Eclipse, you are probably at the limits of what a 4 gauge line can properly carry. It will work and do an alright job, but, if you ever plan on upgrading the sub amp to something that has some real power behind it, then you will be upgrading that wire again. I bet a 4 gauge line will hang in there just fine, if however you are planning on any larger of a system, 0 gauge is in your future and it most certainly would not hurt at all.
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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
Posted By: azrapse
Date Posted: July 14, 2006 at 12:46 AM
the amp is an Absolute PROD1800
Posted By: azrapse
Date Posted: July 14, 2006 at 12:52 AM
I think im just gonna go with 4 gauge for the amps and 2 gauge for the big 3, thanks for the replies gentleman, and as for the specs for the amp, i would like to know cause i cant find them.
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: July 14, 2006 at 12:59 AM
75 amps, class D is going to equate to (give or take) about 800 w rms into either a 1 or 2 ohm load. Remember that the amp is trying to suck current from waaaaaay up front. Sure the BIG 3 or 4 will help you but I would do that main power wire as well. Ensure that you read the what is a proper ground sticky as well as it applies to your install. ------------- Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
Posted By: azrapse
Date Posted: July 14, 2006 at 1:04 AM
Thanks for the advice, but the big4?....is the 4th the main power wire?
Posted By: azrapse
Date Posted: July 14, 2006 at 1:10 AM
Just read the sticky, Great stuff Forbidden Thank You very much
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