Amp wire not enough?

[45js45 10+ year member]

Sons friend is running an audiopipe ap1800 with a single 8 gauge power....is he gonna damage the amp? What if it were a ap1500? told him he needs a larger wire but couldnt substaniate what damage it miht do to the amp with facts....please help.

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[IonRL205 10+ year member]

Should definitely use a larger wire, I'd go with 1/0 gauge if I were you. 8 gauge is really low for that power, I use 2 gauge wiring for my ONX1.1500

 

[dubeeyu 10+ year member]

Definitely bigger than 8. 0 gauge would be a great idea.

 

[tobey 10+ year member]

Unless the battery is like two feet away from the amp, it should be 4 gauge minimum. I don' think he'll damage the amp, but he will melt the insulation on that wire at some point. This could result in lots 'o sparks and fire...

 

[fasfocus00 5,000+ posts]

If he is running it at 1 or 2 ohms he'll damage the amps power supply. It's just a matter of time.

 

[dragonrage 10+ year member]

No, it won't damage the amp's power supply, but it could burn that wire up. Could even start a fire. Not SUPER likely, but possible. My recommendation is 2 gauge.

A power supply won't be damaged by too high a source resistance.

 

[45js45 10+ year member]

The amp is wired @2 ohms.I told him the wire was too small,but I didnt know if it would damage the amp or not.

 

[Bettr n' Revrse 5,000+ posts]

Definitly gunna get toasty...

 

[jtomsic 5,000+ posts]

yeah 8ga is def too small like others said dangerous could catch fire possibly.. not worth the few bucks and 10 mins it takes to run a new/bigger gauged wire. maybe let him know that lol..he wont just have subs but maybe a car if he is unlucky enough to have a fire

 

[disturbed471985 5,000+ posts]

Get your lawn chair your wire clothes hanger and a pack of weenies and get ready for the fire. Then if and when that wire melts and goes up make sure he throws water on it...LOL

 

[45js45 10+ year member]

Will 4 gauge be enough @ 2 ohms?What if he purhases different subs and runs @ 1 ohm?

 

[dragonrage 10+ year member]

4 gauge will be safe but a bit less than ideal at 1 ohm. It will be just fine at 2 ohms.

 

[akheathen Premium Member]

lol, even 4awg will cook in time, and still not pass current well....... hand him a straw and tell him to yell through it for a min. no breathing through his nose, or around the straw. then, hand him something like a 2"+ vacuum hose, or shipping tube and do the same... that is what the amp is seeing. the 8awg is only good for like 40a, depending on length, and over that, the voltage does drop, and the power supply circuits see a lot of heat from it, which also transfers over to the outputs, so yes, it can damage the amp. unless he plans on dropping under 400watts to justify using the wire, then time to upgrade.

 

[dragonrage 10+ year member]

No, 4ga will not burn at that power level.

 

[mclerico83 5,000+ posts]

4 gauge amplifier installation kit

just get some 4 guage

CADENCE 4 GAUGE 20 FEET RED AMP POWER/GROUND WIRE | eBay

i would do 0 guage to be safe and for 1 ohm load but 4 guage will suffice

Cadence AmpKit0 Zero 0 Gauge Amplifier Installation Kit | eBay

would be perfect