runs of wire

[netzero 10+ year member]

Quick question, would it be any different if i ran two runs of 2 gauge to do the big three? I've got 2 gauge doing it now with good results, but if i added another run of 2 gauge all around would it make a difference? I'm under the impression that'll just take the path of least resistance and jump to the shorter of the two correct? Thanks

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[blackbonnie 5,000+ posts]

it wont make a noticeable difference. but the more the merry-er

 

[rumple4skin 10+ year member]

what is noticeable here tho, if your amps are really pulling that much current it will make a difference. altho running two two gauge wires as apposed to one 1/0 gauge, the 1.0 gauge will be better(vary slightly), but ether way this is why they all say to do your big three in a min of 1/0 gauge to 2/0 gauge so you don't get stuck redoing it when you upgrade.(ether way you need to always make sure your car's grounds are better then your alternate equipment, remember current flows to the path of least resistance first)

 

[blackbonnie 5,000+ posts]

2 runs of 2 guage will be more beneficial then 1 run of 1/0. the minimum diameter for the conductor of a wire for it to be consider 2 gauge is .2576. 1/0 is .3245. 2 runs of 2 guage .2576 = and conductor diameter of .5152. but most people only do 1 run that is why it is better to go with a run of 1/0 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

 

[netzero 10+ year member]

Ah ok, so It would help. I'v got two gauge doing it right now, but this summer I'll be redoing it with 1/0. The 2 gauge I have now is the super hard to work with stuff from lowes lol.

 

[blackbonnie 5,000+ posts]

yeah its nice when you have flexible wire to work with. you dont need it to bend like rubber but flex is good when you have to work around stuff

 

[Sean96sx 10+ year member]

2 runs of 2 guage will be more beneficial then 1 run of 1/0. the minimum diameter for the conductor of a wire for it to be consider 2 gauge is .2576. 1/0 is .3245. 2 runs of 2 guage .2576 = and conductor diameter of .5152. but most people only do 1 run that is why it is better to go with a run of 1/0 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

you can't add the 2 2awg diameters together like that...that's not how pi and circles work. the two of them together would be more like .3630 which is only 4 hundredths of an inch thicker

 

[SPL Blazer 10+ year member]

Ah ok, so It would help. I'v got two gauge doing it right now, but this summer I'll be redoing it with 1/0. The 2 gauge I have now is the super hard to work with stuff from lowes lol.

I'd be willing to bet that 0/1 or 2 gauge of a real wire would be better than what your running. As soon as you mentioned you got it from Lowe's it pretty much means it's junk. They don't sell high strand count copper wire for car audio.

 

[Stel 10+ year member]

Electricity does not follow the path of least resistance, it follows all paths, the path with lower resistance will have more current however. The added 2 gauge will decrease total voltage drop and increase total power handling, though you may already be fine with the single run of 2.

 

[netzero 10+ year member]

Ya I plan on running 1/0 of knu later, I knew mine wasn't too good, but got it for free and didn't even have to touch the car lol. I think the left over I have is like maybe 10 thick pieces in heavy PVC surround... It's a pain in the rear to bend when i take off my negative. Lest just say, 6 runs of 4 gauge car audio wire would be better than what I've got...