acceptable voltage drop

[the3rsss]

older car...wanted to keep the stock am radio, so i installed a remote repeater with the cell in the dial of the old radio. Now I point my kenwood remote at the dial of the old am radio and it controls my head unit and changer in the trunk. went out and got some #4 power wire, it ain't cheap, that should take care of the amp. how about the two power wires to the head unit? I've got alot of quality #10 wire around, could I use that, like I said about 140" run.

 

[Trez0r 10+ year member]

older car...wanted to keep the stock am radio, so i installed a remote repeater with the cell in the dial of the old radio. Now I point my kenwood remote at the dial of the old am radio and it controls my head unit and changer in the trunk. went out and got some #4 power wire, it ain't cheap, that should take care of the amp. how about the two power wires to the head unit? I've got alot of quality #10 wire around, could I use that, like I said about 140" run.

what the hell your radio is in the trunk? I would trash all that equipment, read on here for a month and than get a stereo.

 

[GMCJimmyslt2000 10+ year member]

wire isnt listed by #10 and shit like that, Its called gauge.

Use 4 gauge and u should be good.

 

[wu501 10+ year member]

are you the guy that posted yesterday who has the old *** car with like a 35a alt?

 

[snb778 5,000+ posts]

you have to read the hole post buddy.... is says do your big three and your battery cables in 1/0 gauge and your amps at 4 and 8, thanks for reading before you speak yet again.

sry bro

 

[the3rsss]

sorry...I did not realize that half of you are idiots and the other half don't post...sorry

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

sorry...I did not realize that half of you are idiots and the other half don't post...sorry

only thing left for you to do now is STFU and GTFO

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

Voltage should be at 12.5 with the car off and between 13.8 and 14.4v with the car on, depending on how 'warmed up' the charging system is (Usually, while it's 'cold', it's at 14.4 and slowly drops to 13.8 once it has 'warmed up')

Your voltage should never go below 12.5v, as it is possibly harmful to your audio system components, as well as your car's electronics and computer. Ideally, while your car is on, you want your voltage to stay as close to 13.8v+ as possible with your system on.

 

[94Mazda626 10+ year member]

wire isnt listed by #10 and shit like that, Its called gauge.
Use 4 gauge and u should be good.

Actually, as an electrician I can tell you it is referred as #10 a lot more commonly then 10 gauge

 

[SPL Blazer 10+ year member]

older car...wanted to keep the stock am radio, so i installed a remote repeater with the cell in the dial of the old radio. Now I point my kenwood remote at the dial of the old am radio and it controls my head unit and changer in the trunk. went out and got some #4 power wire, it ain't cheap, that should take care of the amp. how about the two power wires to the head unit? I've got alot of quality #10 wire around, could I use that, like I said about 140" run.

If your driving a classic car this is a great way to go, it's a pretty sweet thing to do, a nice kind of stealth radio. Would too if your living near a ghetto and don't want your gear ripped off too. 10 gauge would do just fine, but for the power wire going to the headunit you could upgrade it to a good 12 ga wire and be ok.

 

[Stel 10+ year member]

Actually, as an electrician I can tell you it is referred as #10 a lot more commonly then 10 gauge

I agree, or "10 wire", "10 2" etc.

And to the OP, try and ignore the lame comments.

Of course some people wouldn't want to ruin a classic car by putting a modern radio up front, especially if it's a show car.

Yes this voltage drop is a bit much. The 4 should take car of that for the amp, and the 10 should be fine for the HU if it's not powering any speakers. Make sure you have a good, short ground of matching gauge for both too.

 

[the3rsss]

thanks...forgot all about the ground. It's a short run but looks like #12 wire also. I'll upgrade that to #4

 

[SPL Blazer 10+ year member]

I agree, or "10 wire", "10 2" etc.Make sure you have a good, short ground of matching gauge for both too.

Why is it that people always recommend a "short" ground, or keep the ground as close as possible to the amp, why is this? I've run grounds around 12" from the amp, 3 feet from the amp and 15 feet from the amp and it's never made a bit of difference. As long as your ground is the same gauge as the power wire and has a solid contact with the body or battery terminal I can't see how it's going to make any difference. Anyone got a real answer to this, and not just a noob guess?

 

[jrwalte 10+ year member]

Why is it that people always recommend a "short" ground, or keep the ground as close as possible to the amp, why is this? I've run grounds around 12" from the amp, 3 feet from the amp and 15 feet from the amp and it's never made a bit of difference. As long as your ground is the same gauge as the power wire and has a solid contact with the body or battery terminal I can't see how it's going to make any difference. Anyone got a real answer to this, and not just a noob guess?

For some reason amp manufactures recommend it in their installation instructions. Pioneer recommends it in their HU ground as well.

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

Why is it that people always recommend a "short" ground, or keep the ground as close as possible to the amp, why is this? I've run grounds around 12" from the amp, 3 feet from the amp and 15 feet from the amp and it's never made a bit of difference. As long as your ground is the same gauge as the power wire and has a solid contact with the body or battery terminal I can't see how it's going to make any difference. Anyone got a real answer to this, and not just a noob guess?

i would say because the longer the cable, the more prone it is to interference. sounds good to me.