Comparing 1/0 to 4/0.

I thought...
smaller/more strands = more surface area

more surface area = less resistance

Right? So therefore the smaller but higher strand count would be more effective then the larger less strand count?

Or am i wrong in this?
Maybe when compairing two different brands of 1/0. But the 4/0 would be able to carry more current even with the lesser strand count.

 
thanks alot for the info got another question thuogh. i updraded my alt to battery wire to 4 gauge but it has about 8 strands of wire. would it make a huge diffference in voltage drop if i used a much finer strand? or is it fine the way it is

 
i bought some 1/0 welding wire and it was pretty hard to work with. I wouldnt recommend using it..
Thats what I've been told in the past. DC current flows on the surface of the wire, so surface area makes a difference, AC current would flow through the entire wire so surface area isn't as important. Not sure why/how this works, cause I would think power is power whether it's AC or DC, but thats what I've read in other forums.
I thought...
smaller/more strands = more surface area

more surface area = less resistance

Right? So therefore the smaller but higher strand count would be more effective then the larger less strand count?

Or am i wrong in this?
lolwut?

Google "Skin effect"

Then google welding supply.

You guys are looking at the wrong "surface area." You need to look at cross sectional surface area, not longitudinal surface area. If the wire is truly rated for xx AWG, then it will have the same cross sectional area as any other wire truly rated for the same wire size, regardless of strand count.

 
The Coppercableman wire is flexible. I had them send me every size of welding wire they sell for some samples so I could compare it to some of the more popular vehicle audio wire. You can see the difference in size in the picture below.

The four pcs of welding wire on the right are from Coppercableman on Ebay.

From the right to the left...4/0ga welding...3/0ga welding...2/0ga welding...1/0ga welding...1/0ga Kicker Hyperflex...1/0ga Lightning Audio...1/0ga Knu Kollossus...2/0ga welding...1/0ga welding................The last four pcs of welding wire are from Ebay link and the first two pcs of welding wire are from my local welding supply shop.

The only real difference between most vehicle audio wire and welding wire is that the welding wire is not tinned, it has larger individual strands, normally has a inner protective liner (some welding wire uses paper as the inner liner) and the outer cover is not glossy and translucent like most vehicle audio wire.

Most of the 1/0ga vehicle audio wire is closer in size to the 2/0ga welding wire. The 1/0ga welding wire is the same size as most cheap vehicle audio wire.

2265826330048953316S600x600Q85.jpg


 
nice comparison. i use the flex-a-prene wire (as shown above but 1/0) and it's very easy to work with, and is pretty big.

a question i have though (we'll use your pic for reference...), given the orange 1/0 welding cable and the blue 1/0 Knu would there be any difference in resistance since the Knu is tinned vs the un-tinned welding cable? just curious if you loose out when using tinned wire.

 
nice comparison. i use the flex-a-prene wire (as shown above but 1/0) and it's very easy to work with, and is pretty big.
a question i have though (we'll use your pic for reference...), given the orange 1/0 welding cable and the blue 1/0 Knu would there be any difference in resistance since the Knu is tinned vs the un-tinned welding cable? just curious if you loose out when using tinned wire.
The tinned copper wire is supposed to oxidize less than the bare copper wire. I don't think it affects performance at all.

 
The tinned copper wire is supposed to oxidize less than the bare copper wire. I don't think it affects performance at all.
the "tin" coating doesn't affect the resistance at all? seems like it would, even if it was a small amount. i know that they do it for oxidation purposes.

idc either way. just curious..

 
DSC03627.jpg


Got my 4/0 in....here's a few pics next to some Knukonceptz Kolossus Flex 1/0. And it's lime green....booyah //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

DSC03613.jpg


DSC03612.jpg


DSC03611.jpg


Annnnnnnnnnd...Thanks go out to Rusty as he's in the middle of making my 5 LVL5 15's....doooooo work son
 
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