Adding 1000 rms. What gauge wire?

[I Like Waffle]

Im doing an install and my power is gonna go from 600 rms to around 1400-1600rms and im a little confused as to what to do with my power wires. Currently i dont really have any bad voltage drops but i assume thatll change with 3 times the power. Im at a 14.1 with the car running and no bass (metered at the amp) and when a heavy bass note hits it drops to around 13.7-13.5 depending on the song. Right now i have some cheap metra 4 gauge to my amp in the trunk, have big 3 done, on a stock 100 amp alt. Would it be a good idea to get a single run of 0 gauge, or just add another run of 4 gauge? 2 runs of 4 gauge = 2 gauge right? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif Also im gonna add a yellowtop in the back for my amps. So if anything ill just add a run of 0 or 4 gauge, plus still have the 4 gauge run i got in already, just change the fuse out //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif what do you guys think?

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[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

it'd be best to run 0awg, but that really depends on whether or not your amp needs it //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[Linkz 10+ year member]

Just save yourself the trouble and do one run of 1/0 wire. then do the big 3. Search the forms to find out how.

 

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

Just save yourself the trouble and do one run of 1/0 wire. then do the big 3. Search the forms to find out how.

that 1/0 won't do anything if his amp doesn't require it.

 

[endofdays89 5,000+ posts]

you don't need no 1 gauge for 1600 watts. i run that now with minor voltage drops.

4 gauge will do

 

[I Like Waffle]

big 3 already done. ill probably just get a run of 0 gauge just to avoid the hassle of having to upgrade later. Also i can add a battery under the hood as well, and run another 4g wire from the alt to it, would this be a benefit at all to my voltage drops?

 

[endofdays89 5,000+ posts]

edit, i failed to read the whole thing

 

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

big 3 already done. ill probably just get a run of 0 gauge just to avoid the hassle of having to upgrade later. Also i can add a battery under the hood as well, and run another 4g wire from the alt to it, would this be a benefit at all to my voltage drops?

adding a battery will help your voltage drop. Running an oversized wire to your amp probably wont'. It might help the amp stay cooler though.

 

[Linkz 10+ year member]

that 1/0 won't do anything if his amp doesn't require it.

Hes upgrading now. Proably will later as well. Therfore, getting 1/0 could save some trouble in the future. Plus I would rather have 1/0 or 2/0 regardless of power.

 

[Notloud00 10+ year member]

that 1/0 won't do anything if his amp doesn't require it.

unless he upgrades in the future... which everybody does anyways.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

Hes upgrading now. Proably will later as well. Therfore, getting 1/0 could save some trouble in the future. Plus I would rather have 1/0 or 2/0 regardless of power.

as long as he's upgrading then it's fine. It's just that it'll be a bish to try to fit that 1/0 in the amp if it doesn't require you to. Could always buy a reducer though

 

[I Like Waffle]

Ive heard that mixing batts is bad for the batteries and the alt and whatnot. But could i wire up a 2nd batt to the alternator and have it on the other side of the engine bay? With its own power wire going from the alt to it, and it grounded to the chassis? Or would there be an issue? My primary battery is some everstart bs from walmart, but it doesnt give me problems. Wanna add a yellowtop and power everything from that.

Also,what would be the diff between adding one under the hood and one in the trunk?

 

[kovemaster559 5,000+ posts]

do 2 runs of 4ga . add more as needed

 

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

Ive heard that mixing batts is bad for the batteries and the alt and whatnot. But could i wire up a 2nd batt to the alternator and have it on the other side of the engine bay? With its own power wire going from the alt to it, and it grounded to the chassis? Or would there be an issue? My primary battery is some everstart bs from walmart, but it doesnt give me problems. Wanna add a yellowtop and power everything from that.

Also,what would be the diff between adding one under the hood and one in the trunk?

mixing batts doesn't hurt anything. And what the hell are you talking about in the last question? I guess adding one in the hood would be a bish since you'll have two batts up there //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif

 

[alex5857 10+ year member]

i can give you 20 ft for 22shipped of 2ga if you want