8 gauge wiring

[clubcar13 10+ year member]

Hey guys,

I have a sony xplod 1000 watt amp that is pushing one 07 kicker comp vr 15". I used an 8 gauge wiring kit to hook it up. Is that ok? Also, I am using an 80 fuse on the power wire in the fuse holder by the battery. Is that ok. The amp has 2 fuses that are 25 on it. Thats ok, right. Sorry I am a newb haha. Also, Is it ok if I am pushing this setup with a new interstate battery and it has the stock alternator. Its a 2004 Ford explorer eddie bauer.

Thanks,

Mike

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[Colt9699 10+ year member]

i would have used 4 ga wire but i think 8 ga is ok for your wattage.

80 a on power is fine.

alt + batt should be fine, but you could use some 4 ga and upgrade the big 3.

the big 3 is disscussed in depth on this site,just search big 3

 

[spoonraker 10+ year member]

80A is too big of a fuse for 8 gauge. I would go down to 60.

Your 1000W sony amp is most likely not generating anywhere near that RMS, so you should be fine with a regular battery and stock amp. I'm running about 1600 Watts RMS in my system and also a 250W PSU for my CarPC with a stock alt and regular battery from autozone with 4 gauge wiring, no problems so far, but I'm really pushing my electrical.

 

[clubcar13 10+ year member]

I just put a really good 80 amp fuse in the fuse holder. Do I really have to change it or is it fine? Im scared Ill blow something. Is there nothing to worry about?

 

[spoonraker 10+ year member]

I have an 80 amp fuse on my 4 Gauge wire and I draw probably twice as much power as you do and have yet to blow a fuse.

A fuse is supposed to allow enough current to flow through for normal operation, but break the connection if an excessive amount of current is being put through it. Putting an 80 amp fuse on 8 gauge, I'd be worried that it wouldn't ever blow, even if there was a short. Go check out an 8 gauge wiring kit, I bet none of them come with anything bigger than a 60 amp fuse.