wire gauge size?
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=98375
Printed Date: April 19, 2024 at 12:18 PM
Topic: wire gauge size?
Posted By: gpappy
Subject: wire gauge size?
Date Posted: October 27, 2007 at 6:57 PM
I'm planning on running 2 x 300 watt sub amps and possibly a 4 channel amp in the near future for the front stage and rear. I would like to run just one power cable from battery fuse block to a fused distribution block near the amps. I have available a free supply of 6 awg stranded wire but I know thats not quite enough. What if I ran 2 or 3 runs of 6 awg together and tied the ends together. Would this be comparable to say running one 2 awg cable or is there a formula for figuring this out? I'm trying to save 40 or 50 bucks on wire and maybe this isn't the best way to go about it, but I'd like to hear what more experienced people than myself think about this idea? Thanks!
Replies:
Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: October 27, 2007 at 8:53 PM
1. Yes you can do it.
2. EACH cable must be protected with it's own dedicated fuse, for the proper rating. DO NOT CONNECT THEM TO OR WITH A COMMON FUSE HOLDER.
3. To double a run will give you about 3 wire gauge steps up. Two #6 wires will be about the equivalent of a #3. Three runs will increase that about 1.5 steps more, so three #6 wires will be AROUND the current carrying capacity of a #2, maybe a little bit more.
Looking at the additional cost of fuses, connectors, the distro block, your time to terminate and run three cables, etc... you won't be saving much at all...
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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: KPierson
Date Posted: October 27, 2007 at 9:39 PM
You can do it, but if you were following the NEC (which car audio is exempt from) it would be a code violation. :)
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Kevin Pierson
Posted By: still_walkin
Date Posted: October 27, 2007 at 10:02 PM
True thanks you all yeah fuses aren't that cheap .
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1993 sdv
Alpine 4x6 6x9 5 1/4 swr-10d4
alpine v60
12.5 VGA flip down
Nettop pc w/10" touch screen
78nova
5-re audio 5x7 ,10" sub &
Xtx-500.5
"Take the faceplate off get the jumperpack"
Posted By: gpappy
Date Posted: October 27, 2007 at 10:05 PM
Good points to think about. Thanks guys for the help.
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