Really want to avoid the rewire. Input on my numbers please

[funkyab 10+ year member]

Hey all,

im about to begin my upgrades for the year.

Please tell me if you think i need to upgrade my wiring. Unfortunately, I think i already know the answer.

I am upgrading my sub amp to hifonics bxi1606d, 1600 at 1 ohm. I will be using it to its full capacity. I currently have everything in 4ga wiring. The runs to the battery are approximately 16 feet. on the same run of 4ga that I will have my new sub amp, I also have my tower speaker amp, which is 85rms at 4ohm.

So essentially the load on my 16 foot runs of 4ga would be 1,940rms.

Can i get by with the 4 or do I REALLY need to upgrade to 1/0?

If i must, i will also have to upgrade my ground (of course) and my alt to battery, as well as the 6' power and ground connecting my batteries. This is a big project on my boat.

Please share your inupt!

Click to read more...

 

[phyphoestilic 5,000+ posts]

technically, u can really keep the 4AWG and be fine, if u keep at least a stable 14v then u can draw up to 2,100rms and still be within the load of the cable. But of course this number goes down after length is put in. So yes, it would be alot better for u to upgrade, or if u want, u can always just run a 2nd run of 4AWG. Also keep in mind that u probably wont ever run any of ur gear at tehir full potential.

 

[wlmrs 10+ year member]

I think you'll be fine with 4 ga. wire.I'm running 4 ga. to my bxi2006d and it's fine for now but I'm only running it @ 2 ohms later when I get new sub(s) I will run 2 ga. or better.

 

[funkyab 10+ year member]

hmmm.. interesting and sounds promising.

As far as "adding a second run of 4ga" if i did that i would just upgrade to 1/0. What i am trying to avoid is having to disassemble half of the boat to get this done.

I am not always "stable at 14v" When the boat is running i am. My alt is 200h/o and 100-120 at idle (which is where i am 90% of the time) sometimes though, I turn off the engine for a while which drops me down to just over 12v, or wherever my yellow tops choose to keep me.

so, looks like i could keep my 4ga.......

also, another question about fuses. Right now, I have 80amp at the distro going to the sub amp, and another 80amp at the tower amp.

At the battery, I only have a 100amp fuse. What size fuse should I upgrade to? 300amp?

Finally, like an idiot, i didnt understand that I needed to fuse the lines connecting my two yellow tops. What size fuse do i need in between the batteries? Also, should I fuse my alt to batt cable?

in case it is of concern, coming off my battery on the other side, I have 2 additional amps of 330rms 160rms, as well as my HU and LED lights.

 

[phyphoestilic 5,000+ posts]

Yes u should fuse the cable from alt to batt, as a safty precaution, it's not required tho. U fuse according to the cable for that, so if ur doing 4AWG then 150amp fuse. IF ur going to upgrade to 0AWG then yes 300amp.

As for the fuse for the sub amp, if ur amplfier already has a internal fuse, I'd just fuse according to the wire (IE 150 for 4AWG). Some amplifiers require an external fuse at certain rating, but im positive the Bxi1606D comes with fuses on the amp tho.

 

[CobaltKicker 10+ year member]

Hey all,
im about to begin my upgrades for the year.

Please tell me if you think i need to upgrade my wiring. Unfortunately, I think i already know the answer.

I am upgrading my sub amp to hifonics bxi1606d, 1600 at 1 ohm. I will be using it to its full capacity. I currently have everything in 4ga wiring. The runs to the battery are approximately 16 feet. on the same run of 4ga that I will have my new sub amp, I also have my tower speaker amp, which is 85rms at 4ohm.

So essentially the load on my 16 foot runs of 4ga would be 1,940rms.

Can i get by with the 4 or do I REALLY need to upgrade to 1/0?

If i must, i will also have to upgrade my ground (of course) and my alt to battery, as well as the 6' power and ground connecting my batteries. This is a big project on my boat.

Please share your inupt!

Make sure you install a couple cooling fans on that Hifonics 1606D....especially if you'll be maxing it out in full burst.

 

[funkyab 10+ year member]

Make sure you install a couple cooling fans on that Hifonics 1606D....especially if you'll be maxing it out in full burst.

Wow,, I asked a question about this a few days ago that never was responded to, concerning the heat. I was especially concerned as it will be playing at 3/4 max volume for 3, 4 or 5 hours at a time, in a boat in the hot sun (amp is in shade).

So... i need to add colling fans.. ****.. How do i go about doing this. Do i add them internally and modify the casing to allow for blow through??

 

[fwb_1234 10+ year member]

I think that you can get some computer fans that will run at 12v and stick them near or on the heatsinks of the amp.

(You might need to run a resistor in series with the fan. Ask someone more knowledgeable about that though.)

 

[funkyab 10+ year member]

wow,,, this is unfortunate. is this really necessary?? this is going to dirty up my install like crazy!

 

[funkyab 10+ year member]

anyone know about installing a fan on the inside of the amp? Possibly tapping into the internal power supply?

 

[fwb_1234 10+ year member]

They are saying it's necessary, not me.

Do you amps have a heat protection feature that will put them into protect if they overheat? If so, don't worry about it unless they go into protect mode.

 

[funkyab 10+ year member]

Well...

i know that most if not all the hifonics have thermal shutdown in case of high temp (80c for mine)

So.. im not going to mess with any fan craziness unless i really start shutting down regularly!! We will see.

 

[funkyab 10+ year member]

I really apperciate the help i have gotten so far on this thread. However, I am still a bit confused as i have received different information everywhere!! ARGGG!!

On the wire guide here at CA, it states:

Keep in mind that length is a factor here as well. If you're doing a long run (>20 feet), you should use one size larger. It doesn't hurt to use a wire size that's larger than necessary, but it will usually cost more and can be more difficult to install.
Power Wire:

4 gauge: ~140 amperes

Class D (~70% efficiency) -

Class A/B (~50% efficiency) -

On BCAE he states:

4 awg 131 amps max 1084watts class a/b

max 1355 watts class d

http://www.bcae1.com/wire.htm

On the 12volt they state:

1400 total rms for 4ga at 4' and 2ga past that length.

http://www.the12volt.com/info/recwirsz.asp

im confused

 

[phyphoestilic 5,000+ posts]

better play it safe and upgrade then. lol //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif make it alot easier incase u decide to add more lights or fans or w/e later.