2 Wires vs 1 wire

[Blu84Rex 10+ year member]

I am going to be adding an amp to my system soon and need a power wire. Right now my current amp in on an 8 gauge wire. My question is what are the pros and cons of using a 4 gauge for 2 amps vs two 8 gauge one per amp. the amps are 500w rms at 2 ohm.

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[negativezeroz 5,000+ posts]

Ok so you are asking what the pros/cons of:

1) Using 4awg for both amps

2) Using two runs of 8awg for each amp (in turn 4runs)

Well the obvious is 4awg handles more current draw and is less cluttered.

If I were you, I'd just run 1/0 for main power wire then to a distro to split the 1/0 into two 4awg outputs and run one 4awg to each amp.

 

[Blu84Rex 10+ year member]

The only reason why I asked is because I have about 60" of 8awg and I haven't looked at the price lately but isn't 1/0 kinda pricey? or is there a place that I can get 20" kind cheap but with good quality?

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

60" of 8 gauge is 5 feet. Are you mounting your amps in the engine compartment? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eyebrow.gif.fe2c18d8720fe8c7eaed347b21ea05a5.gif

 

[David706 10+ year member]

60" of 8 gauge is 5 feet. Are you mounting your amps in the engine compartment? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eyebrow.gif.fe2c18d8720fe8c7eaed347b21ea05a5.gif

lmao i didnt even catch that

 

[Blu84Rex 10+ year member]

Hey I didn't catch it and I typed it //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif I have 60ft not 60in of 8awg

 

[Team Hammer 10+ year member]

Hey I didn't catch it and I typed it //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif I have 60ft not 60in of 8awg

I did not catch it myself. I was thinking you had a #4ga going to a MANL Dist block. Anyways, You can have Two runs of #8 from the battery to each amp. If your strapped for cash.

 

[Jake95 10+ year member]

yeah, if you are on a low buget, like me, that will work fine, i have 2 8ga wires on my one amp, and it sounds fine, my amp doesnt draw much power, but its better than 1 8ga, cuz the current flows better, but yeah to answer you, it will work fine, although, people have told me to just go with bigger size, but it will work fine, and draw some nice current. mine as well use that 8ga u have.