| Author |
Message |
    
Blackdog
| | Posted on Saturday, May 04, 2002 - 12:36 pm: | 
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I would like to know what gauge of wire I should use to hook it up to the battery?
Should the both wires be the same gauge it will be about approx. 15 feet from the amp to the battery hook up?
Also what is the best way hook the amp up postive to the battery and ground where? |
Dx431
| | Posted on Sunday, May 05, 2002 - 12:59 am: |
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Blackdog, I'm not sure of the gauge of wire, but i think 8 would work? Anyway, you want to use the same gauge wire on both - and +, and run the - to the - side of the battery. That will hopefully eliminate any RF inside the vehicle. What i like to do is, put an inline fuse 12" from the battery on the + wire and mount it to the inner fender well. You can obtain these at any stereo shop and Rad Shak. Hope this helps.
DX431 |
Taz
| | Posted on Sunday, May 05, 2002 - 1:17 am: |
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use 10. You can use 8 but it might be over kill for you. guage. You can run as big as you want really. The bigger the better. why not spend the few extra cents to guarentee that your amp is getting all the required power.
020-100 watts use >#14 awg wire
100-250 watts use ># 12 awg wire
250-350 watts use ># 10 awg wire
400-500 watts use ># 8 awg wire
500-650 watts use >#6 awg wire |
Alsworld
| | Posted on Sunday, May 05, 2002 - 11:33 am: |
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Go with 10 gauge minimum. Hook them both straight to the battery, red to +, black to -. Don't try to ground it to the chasis, it can cause RF ground loop problems. How you connect it to the battery depend on what type of terminals you have on your battery. I use crimp type connections that I soldered and heat shrinked. Sometimes car stereo stores have some great accessories but I just saw something new on Coppers homepage that might be exactly what you need. Check it out, might save you the hassle and guessing. |
Warlock
| | Posted on Monday, May 06, 2002 - 5:41 am: |
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At that long of run I'd run #8. Fuse it at battery with 30a fuse, solder all connections. |
Triplecguy
| | Posted on Thursday, August 15, 2002 - 1:56 pm: |
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I have a palomar 250 gold. Ran #10 from the battery and never have even got it warm yet. Works great. Distance is about 12 feet. good luck DAN |
Triplecguy
| | Posted on Thursday, August 15, 2002 - 1:56 pm: |
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I have a palomar 250 gold. Ran #10 from the battery and never have even got it warm yet. Works great. Distance is about 12 feet. good luck DAN |
Rattlesnakejake
| | Posted on Sunday, December 21, 2003 - 10:48 pm: |
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wow, taz .. quite a knowledgeable kid.... you and i are like the only minors in the forum.. lol.. whats your equipment? |
Pig040
| | Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 10:30 am: |
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Run #8, then you can use a bigger amp down the line without too much problems. It is like a boat, you WILL want to go bigger!! |
Audiomonster
Junior Member
Username: Audiomonster
Post Number: 11
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 7:35 pm: |
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Gentlemen:
#10 wire is good for 30 amps current draw.
# 8 wire is goood for up to 40 amps, although you can fudge an easy 50 amps or so without too much problem if the run is short.
# 6 is good 50 - 60 amps current draw.
# 4 will handle 80 amps, and # 2 will operate at 100 amps all day long.
You can check out your equipment and see what you need to handle the current needs.
The most important thing to do is to use some type of fuse link at the battery source, so if the insulation were to worn off, and accidently short to ground, the fuse link would save your battery and electrical on your vehicle. Using larger than required wire to satisfiy your electrical needs is actually a good idea, it helps your equipment run cooler too, the down side is bigger wire is harder to work with in an instalation where neatness is desired, has the same problem, like running RG213 in the mobile.
The car stereo fad has actually helped in making products like monster size fuses and fuse holders pretty easy to find, and thats a good thing. I am using a #8 and a #10 and I am running a Alinco DX70TH, Alinco DR135, Texas star DX500, Superstar 3900G, and I have had no problems.
Hope this helps answer your questions, 73's NNN0WAW/NNN0GAY8 US NAVY MARINE CORPS MARS |
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