Ideal gauge for head unit power supply?

[yacob.naif 10+ year member]

In my VW, the aftermarket wiring adaptors short out the diagnostic wire to constant +12v.

I want to bypass the factory stereo wiring altogether and run new power and ground cables to the switched +12v fuse panel under the dash.

What wiring gauge would you recommend, running a pioneer 3200bt, but the internal amplification will be switched off as amplification duties will be done by an external amplifier.

Would a 12ga wire be enough for a head unit? Or would you go larger/smaller? Run will be approx 4 feet.

Click to read more...

 

[basscort2009 5,000+ posts]

i ran a new hot/ground for my HU with 16 gauge and its plenty big. my runs are like 7 ft. if your going less than 10 ft then 16 gauge will work. i mean how many amps is that HU pullilng? less than 10

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

^except you'd need to fuse the 16awg for

go with a 20A fuse and 12AWG wire.

 

[yacob.naif 10+ year member]

Thanks guys.

I don't feel like soldering anything, so i'll probably just go to autozone or summit racing and see what they have in the way of a 12AWG run with an inline fuse holder already attached.