4 Gauge Wire Good Enough?

[kevinmcc2]

I would like to do a mild amp/subwoofer system in my protege. I have always ran 4 gauge wire, but figured I would get some other opinions.

I would rather run the 4 gauge since it is easy to tuck and hide than 0 gauge.

I would be running a rather small setup, 2 subs with about 500 RMS total.

Click to read more...

 

[jrdnhsnbrg 10+ year member]

4ga is fine for that, but if you want to go big in the future 0ga will be necessary. Good luck with the install! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Full Tilt 10+ year member]

Yup, 4ga should be suitable for that little of current. Do you plan on buying OFC wire, or CCA?

 

[kevinmcc2]

4ga is fine for that, but if you want to go big in the future 0ga will be necessary. Good luck with the install! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Awesome, also, can I run the REM wire along side the RCA cable without interference? I would like to follow the same path behind the head unit to the trunk.

 

[kevinmcc2]

Yup, 4ga should be suitable for that little of current. Do you plan on buying OFC wire, or CCA?

I honestly do not know the difference, I am looking at a kit on Crutchfield right now. Link below, thoughts?

EFX 4-gauge Amplifier Wiring Kit Power and signal connections for your new amp at Crutchfield.com

 

[thatguy12 10+ year member]

Awesome, also, can I run the REM wire along side the RCA cable without interference? I would like to follow the same path behind the head unit to the trunk.

i always run power on one side, and remote and rca's on the oppisite. four gauge will suffice for 500 rms

 

[jrdnhsnbrg 10+ year member]

Awesome, also, can I run the REM wire along side the RCA cable without interference? I would like to follow the same path behind the head unit to the trunk.

Yeah that's fine, the remote wire doesn't carry enough power to create interference. Some people even tape them together with electrical tape at certain intervals to make it easier.

 

[Full Tilt 10+ year member]

I honestly do not know the difference, I am looking at a kit on Crutchfield right now. Link below, thoughts?
EFX 4-gauge Amplifier Wiring Kit Power and signal connections for your new amp at Crutchfield.com

CCA & OFC wire bare some similarities, but many performance differences. CCA (or Copper Clad Aluminum) wire is made of a mixture of copper as well as some other metals, and is less (conductive?) than OFC (Oxygen Free Copper) wire, which is about 100% copper. This concentration of copper makes the wire capable to run a lot more current through it.

The site claims the wire is OFC, so you should be good with that kit.

 

[Freeman]

knu has some really good 4 gauge kits and cheep and its really flexible.

 

[jrdnhsnbrg 10+ year member]

CCA & OFC wire bare some similarities, but many performance differences. CCA (or Copper Clad Aluminum) wire is made of a mixture of copper as well as some other metals, and is less (conductive?) than OFC (Oxygen Free Copper) wire, which is about 100% copper. This concentration of copper makes the wire capable to run a lot more current through it.
The site claims the wire is OFC, so you should be good with that kit.

I believe conductive is the correct word there, by the way

 

[kevinmcc2]

Awesome, thanks again, was just checking I didnt want to run the wire and get interference and have to redo it, or have to get bigger wire!

 

[Full Tilt 10+ year member]

I believe conductive is the correct word there, by the way

Thanks, I thought so. Considering wire is usually rated by amperage, that'd be measuring the wire's conductivity.

 

---------- Post added at 01:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:17 PM ----------

 

Awesome, thanks again, was just checking I didnt want to run the wire and get interference and have to redo it, or have to get bigger wire!

Not unless you plan on upgrading in the future (which is very possible! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif )

 

[jrdnhsnbrg 10+ year member]

Awesome, thanks again, was just checking I didnt want to run the wire and get interference and have to redo it, or have to get bigger wire!

Yeah I've had my current car since May and I've ran 6,2, and now 0ga wire in it. The Audio Bug doesn't die easily //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[jrdnhsnbrg 10+ year member]

Thanks, I thought so. Considering wire is usually rated by amperage, that'd be measuring the wire's conductivity. 

---------- Post added at 01:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:17 PM ----------

 

Not unless you plan on upgrading in the future (which is very possible! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif )

I also think resistance is a small factor, too. Even the purest copper has resistance.

 

[kevinmcc2]

Thanks, I thought so. Considering wire is usually rated by amperage, that'd be measuring the wire's conductivity. 

---------- Post added at 01:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:17 PM ----------

 

Not unless you plan on upgrading in the future (which is very possible! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif )

I figured 4 gauge is fine for now, if I wanted more than 500 or so I think I might need to upgrade my battery, alternator first!

ALSO someone mentioned to me to run a second ground wire off the battery to the body of the car? Why is this?