0 gauge ok for big 3 with 4 gauge for amp power wire?

[95lincdog]

Ok so I currently have 4 gauge running to my amps, I want to do the big 3 and I have some extra 0 gauge. Is it ok to have them different sizes(big 3 vs amp power wire)? Big 3 will all be the same size

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[bigfluke 773]

Yes, I would recommend using 0 gauge no matter what you're running to your amp.

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

Yes it's fine. The wires only gonna carry what your alt puts out

 

[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

0 gauge is massive overkill for the short wire lengths you will need. You could use good quality 4 AWG OFC wire. It's not going to hurt anything to go bigger, but don't buy bigger CCA wire instead of full copper.

 

[72Impala 10+ year member]

My big 3 is 4/0 welding.

But yea do copper for big 3 for sure, don't want the wire to oxidize.

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

Yes, I would recommend using 0 gauge no matter what you're running to your amp.

This.

 

[95lincdog]

0 gauge is massive overkill for the short wire lengths you will need. You could use good quality 4 AWG OFC wire. It's not going to hurt anything to go bigger, but don't buy bigger CCA wire instead of full copper.

The 0 gauge I have is street wires brand. Is that CCA?

I have 4 gauge but I don't think it's OFC

 

[negolien]

Yes it's fine. The wires only gonna carry what your alt puts out

I concur with the above.

 

[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

The 0 gauge I have is street wires brand. Is that CCA?I have 4 gauge but I don't think it's OFC

If it's all copper or tinned copper it should look like copper on the ends of the strands. CCA will have copper on the outside of the strands but the inside will be silver in color. OFC is also noticeably heavier than CCA if you can compare the same length and same cross sectional area.

 

[Popwarhomie 5,000+ posts]

Not to thread jack but wouldn't OFC non tinned oxidize under the hood?

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

Not to thread jack but wouldn't OFC non tinned oxidize under the hood?

OFC will oxidize on earth.

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

0 gauge is massive overkill for the short wire lengths you will need. You could use good quality 4 AWG OFC wire. It's not going to hurt anything to go bigger.

This x eleventy bazillion

no problem with cca personally.

 

[95lincdog]

All the wires I have are ofc. No silver at all. That will be ok if it oxidizes? I'm not sure if I have enough. My 0 is 7 ft long and the 4 is just 5 random pieces just a ft to a couple ft long each. If i do need to buy more is there no big difference between ofc and CCA?

 

[sthib 10+ year member]

For your application cca is fine.

 

[95lincdog]

For your application cca is fine.

I do plan on upgrading my system. For what applications do u need ofc?