Rookie wiring question...

[Zesty 10+ year member]

Looking to install a Cadence txa1000d and soundsplinter rl-p15 to a pioneer deh-p5800mp. I have a bunch of questions, but right now one major one.

I was planning on wiring the speaker in parallel to get a 1-ohm load and 1000w. My question is on the speaker wire size. I have been suggested 12awg wire, but from the sticky up top it says I should be using a size bigger(10awg)? I don't want to skimp on wire size, so I figure it would at least give me more "headroom" using the 10awg? Or is 12awg plenty considering I'll be running a short length of wire(from amp to sub in trunk)?

Also, on the box to the amp it states it can accept 8gaug speaker wire, but in the manual it states it can accept only 16gauge....what's up with that?

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[maxxguy1 10+ year member]

12gauge should be more than enough for what you talking about

 

[btlking 10+ year member]

12 gauge is completely fine you wouldnt be able to tell the difference

 

[Zesty 10+ year member]

Woah, thanks for the ultra-fast replies! You guys are awesome.

 

[kross 10+ year member]

If you haven't yet bought the wire, I'd go ahead and follow the wiring guide. If you already have some 12ga wire, go ahead and use it, but after a session of hard sub usage, feel the wire, and if it's hot, replace it with 10ga. If not, you're fine.

 

[XanderMoser 10+ year member]

Yeah, 12 gauge should be more than enough. Speaker wire carries very little current (when using it for speakers...), so it won't get warm unless you use ridiculously small wire. The reason you need a certain size of wire is because of the resistance of the wire. The longer the run, the thicker the wire you need. The rule is to make sure that the resistance of the wire does not exceed 10% (preferable 5%) of the nominal impedance of the speaker. If there is too much resistance in the wire in comparison to the impedance of the speaker, it will noticeably change your frequency response.

 

[kross 10+ year member]

Speaker wire carries very little current (when using it for speakers...)

Not when it's 1000 watts into a 1-ohm load. Some simple math:

Amps = Watts / Volts

Volts = SQRT( Watts * Ohms )

Amps = 1000 / SQRT( 1000 * 1 )

Amps = 31.6

12 gague wire isn't rated for a continuous load of 32 amps. However, the sub amp won't be pushing 32 amps continuously. It will only push it for short bursts, which is why I said if the wire is getting hot after a hard session, upgrade the wire.

 

[Zesty 10+ year member]

kross, I see exactly what you are saying, and it makes a lot of sense. Unfortunately I had just ordered the amp wiring kit which has 12g wire, but I guess it won't hurt to test it like you said. Thanks again.

 

[kross 10+ year member]

I actually think you'll be fine, just check the wires and see if they get hot. If not, you should be fine.

 

[Side Show 10+ year member]

i'd go 4 gauge or bigger myself..........

 

[kross 10+ year member]

Good luck fitting that in the speaker terminals! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[Scoobydoo 5,000+ posts]

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