Odd situation = IB sub , wire gauge pairing, low watts and Big 3 ???

[ZSK-999 10+ year member]

Hey all //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I've yet to get a straight answer for this strange situation and i'm not so sure I will //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/*******.gif.a649d21efc0d1fd4890a6428166586c1.gif

but here goes anyways...

I've recently caught the DIY audio bug and decided to upgrade the system in my 97 maxima a little bit... Here's a quick run down ...

Previously I had another 97 maxima with the bose stock system in it and added a 15" Dayton Infinite Baffle IB sub with an old school earthquake PA-2150 700w RMS , 2 channel, bridged mono running 350w @ 8ohms I believe.

Seeing as it is an IB sub I only run about 100w to it.

So the older maxima was used as a parts car and I purchased another 97 maxima. The previous owner had already installed 4 alpine SPS-600 2way speakers. So I figured "why not amp them since I'm putting my old IB sub into this new car."

Since my lights would still dim out pulling 100w with the 4gauge wiring ...

I plan on completing the big 3 or at the very least the ground wire from the negative terminal on the battery to the frame/chasis.

After doing that i'll be on my way to wiring my two amps to their respective speakers:

- Earthquake PA-2150 bridged mono = 15" Dayton IB sub pulling 100w

- rockford power 400a4 = 4x50w RMS @ 4 ohms

Previously I had purchased a 4 gauge kit for the earthquake amp to the sub and the 4 gauge is WAY too big for the input on the amp so I had to trim it down to about 40% of its original size and the connection wasn't great ... I ended up having to tape up the other 60% of wiring to get a stable connection.

>>>>>>>>>

So onto my actual question / options list ...

Should I ...

[A] = use the 4 gauge kit for the Rockford 4 channel since it'll be pulling 200w instead of the 100w for the IB sub amp?

= buy another 4 gauge kit so that both amps are running 4gauge even though they're pulling so little?

 

[C] = say screw it and just shelf the 4gauge kit for another time and buy two new 8gauge kits so that the wiring is more balanced?

 

 

AND lastly ...

 

Depending on my selection from the 3 options just listed ... Should I run my Big 3 wires at 8gauge or 4gauge ??

 

 

phew ... that was long //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/graduate.gif.d982460be9f153bb54e5d4cb744f6ae8.gif

 

 

thanks

Click to read more...

 

[Mitch86 5,000+ posts]

Buy a distribution block that has a 4 gauge in and 2 8 gauge outs and run the 8 gauge to each amp. And for the big 3 do the biggest wire possible. Preferably 1/0. but for the amount of power you are running 4 gauge should be fine.

 

[Mitch86 5,000+ posts]

And if you're getting dimming only running 100watts...I think its time for a new battery //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

 

[SpeedEuphoria 10+ year member]

And if you're getting dimming only running 100watts...I think its time for a new battery //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

agree something's up your either running more than 100w or your electrical needs work

4gauge is good for ~125 amps if you keep it 15' or less

 

[ZSK-999 10+ year member]

Hey Mitch + SpeedEuphoria

Thanks for the input ... The first maXima I had , I killed the battery and the alternator and then got both replaced and there was still a dimming.

A few days ago I had read that weak alternators are common in 4th generation (mid-late 90's) maximas.

... Just to clarify ...

Whats a reputable company for a 4 guage in / 2x 8 gauge out distribution block?

Fused i'm guessing ... ?

Should the distribution block be under the hood , or in the trunk?

Someone had suggested running the 4 gauge from the battery to the trunk where the dblock would be and then running 2 short 8gauges to the amps?

If its under the hood and the 4gauge running to the battery is short than I can just use the rest of that 4gauge power cable for the Big 3 connections , right?

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

I like Streetwires fused distribution blocks. I also agree you should just keep the 4 awg and route it to the amps, then split it at a fused distro - 60A for each 8 awg into each amp.

I would not want to run 8 awg back from the battery. instead, buy more 4 awg for your big 3 connections.

You could pick up a 4 awg multi-amp kit from Streetwires or Rockford Fosgate and get the extra 4 awg plus the fused distribution block, terminals etc.

 

[kr15 5,000+ posts]

you might be surprised at how much current that power 400a4 can pull...those "a" series fosgates are pretty power hungry

 

[Mitch86 5,000+ posts]

Distribution block would be in the trunk. 2 short runs of 8gauge to your amps. A nonfused would be ok as long as you have a inline fuse on your power wire near the battery.

 

[JuicyJeff 10+ year member]

I have a fused run of about 6' wire fused 1/0 awg wire, 50 shipped, if your interested. It should be long enough. I ran it in the focus and i had slack leftover, and the focus's alt was buried left side of the engine bay (Opposite of bat)

 

[ZSK-999 10+ year member]

I've put up 3 posts in the last 24 hours and non of them showed up because they had to be approved by a mod ... for whatever reason.

I'm far too tired to remember the exact messages I had put in but ...

In general I just want to say thank you to everyone and especially Mitch and Keep the hope alive (awesome name + alex grey avatar) for your help ...

 

[ZSK-999 10+ year member]

After going to bcae1.com and doing some calculations ...

it seems that as long as I dont run my 4channel anywhere from 75% to 100% full power (which would likely blow my speakers anyways) I shouldn't have a problem using 5ft or less of 8gauge.

As it is I dont have any plans on turning up the gain past 50% anyhow.

 

[Phoenix Risen 10+ year member]

knu konceptzs is also a good company for wire and distro blocks.

 

[ZSK-999 10+ year member]

Thanks //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif