What kind of wires to I need?

[Puppet Master 10+ year member]

I just bought two 12'' subs(700 watts each), an 800 watt amp, and a box. I know it isn't anything to you guys but it is a good starting package. I am gonna hook it up to my factory 2002 Monte Carlo radio. I was wondering what will I need for wiring? Will I need an 8 gauge wire, will 5 work? WHAT DO I NEED?

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[amermuscle15 10+ year member]

12awg for the subs, I would personally put 4awg on the amp and whatever wiring your gonna need to hook up the amp and what not to your stock radio.

 

[Puppet Master 10+ year member]

thanks man, does anyone know exactly what I would need for my stock radio?

 

[DiamondFanatic 10+ year member]

Ok first of all, 12ga is deffinitly overkill for speaker wire for that amp and sub setup. Here is what you need,

17-20ft of 4 guage power wire (I would run 4 guage so if you decide to get a bigger amp, or a second amp then you don't have to re-run a new wire through the car)

A Line Output Converter, this makes it so you can take the high level speaker output from your factory reciever and turn it into the low voltage RCA input the amp wants.

1 2-channel RCA cable, length will be dependant on where you put the LOC

AT LARGEST 14 guage speaker wire for your subs (unless you REALLY want something bigger)

3ft of 4 guage ground, probably in a different color from your power wire that way it's easier to tell them apart

17-20ft of 16 guage turn on lead

1 inline fuse holder (put within 18 inches of the battery under the hood)

2 4 guage spade connectors

2 4 guage ring terminals

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

A LOC (line-output-converter).

David Navone makes a pretty good one.

http://www.autosound2000.com/

 

[amermuscle15 10+ year member]

12awg would work fine. If he ever ends up getting something more powerful he already has the wire. I've always used 12awg on my subs.

 

[DiamondFanatic 10+ year member]

I never said it wouldn't work, just that it was unneccesary. Jim's link is good for the LOC, http://www.cardomain.com/item/STISWK4 that has everything else that you would need except for the speaker wire.

 

[ramos 5,000+ posts]

I just bought two 12'' subs(700 watts each), an 800 watt amp, and a box. I know it isn't anything to you guys but it is a good starting package. I am gonna hook it up to my factory 2002 Monte Carlo radio. I was wondering what will I need for wiring? Will I need an 8 gauge wire, will 5 work? WHAT DO I NEED?

Ahh I see we have a walmart shopper //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif Are you planning on adding anything else later ? I would suggest at least 4 gauge. The 5 guage kit from wally world will work if that's the only amplifier your gonna run. But the 5 gauge power wire is kind of short ( wasn't long enough for my brothers 2 door accord ) , and there is no 5 gauge ground in the kit. It's a good practice to ground with the same gauge as power. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Puppet Master 10+ year member]

Could I get all of this at Best Buy?

 

[ramos 5,000+ posts]

Yep , probably rather pricey there though //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[DaveVT 10+ year member]

yeah if you wanna pay out the ***. Their 4 gauge kit is over 100 bucks. ebay it or get it on here.