Ground wire size?

[oc_cheby 10+ year member]

Im not too clear on what size ground wire I should use for this setup. Im hoping some of you guys and gals could clear this up for me. Im currently running a 4 gauge power wire to a 300w x 1 (2 ohm) amp for my sub. I will be adding another amp (40W × 2 - 4 OHM) for my door speakers. I bought a fused distro block that has one 4 gauge IN and two 8 gauge OUT. My question is ... what size ground wires should I use coming out of the two amps, 4 or 8 gauge? The distance between the amps and the ground spot is about 3 1/2 ft.

Also, I should be good buying this additional power/ground wire from Home Depot or Lowes since they are short runs, right? These short runs will not require any intricate bends or turns.

Thanks in advance.

OC

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[djman37 5,000+ posts]

Im not too clear on what size ground wire I should use for this setup. Im hoping some of you guys and gals could clear this up for me. Im currently running a 4 gauge power wire to a 300w x 1 (2 ohm) amp for my sub. I will be adding another amp (40W × 2 - 4 OHM) for my door speakers. I bought a fused distro block that has one 4 gauge IN and two 8 gauge OUT. My question is ... what size ground wires should I use coming out of the two amps, 4 or 8 gauge? The distance between the amps and the ground spot is about 3 1/2 ft.
Also, I should be good buying this additional power/ground wire from Home Depot or Lowes since they are short runs, right? These short runs will not require any intricate bends or turns.

Thanks in advance.

OC

match ground wire with power wire. 8ga to the amp, 8ga from the amp. Heck, you could put larger ground wire, just not smaller.

 

[blackbonnie 5,000+ posts]

never go smaller then what your power wire is. but it will also never hurt you to go big. so you need to use at least 8 guage ground wires.

 

[oc_cheby 10+ year member]

Thanks, I wasnt sure of which power wire to match to ... power to the distro or from distro to amps. So I will be good with 8 gauge grounds coming out of the 2 amps, as long as I do go any smaller in size.

Any comments on buying the wire for these short runs at HD or Lowes?

 

[djman37 5,000+ posts]

Thanks, I wasnt sure of which power wire to match to ... power to the distro or from distro to amps. So I will be good with 8 gauge grounds coming out of the 2 amps, as long as I do go any smaller in size. Any comments on buying the wire for these short runs at HD or Lowes?

the more strands, the more flexible and more contact area at the terminal.