What size speaker wire to use?

[Xanthous 10+ year member]

What size speaker wire should be run from the amps to subwoofers? speakers?

Subwoofers (2)

1200 rms at 1 ohm. 4 ft. away from amp.

Speakers (4)

100 rms ea. at 4 ohms.

Doors 10 ft away from amp.

Deck 5 ft away from amp.

Thanks, J.

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[orphe 10+ year member]

speaker wire calculator

http://www.bcae1.com/images/swfs/speakerwireselectorassistant.swf

 

[Xanthous 10+ year member]

How do I calculate power output per channel? Is it rms?

 

[orphe 10+ year member]

How do I calculate power output per channel? Is it rms?

yes

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

I'd do 10-12 gauge to the subs, 12-14 gauge to the speakers.

 

[Xanthous 10+ year member]

Thanks for the reply buck, could you explain why? I've been reading its not about current, just length of the wire, and technically..the speakers are farther away than the subs.

 

[09civic 5,000+ posts]

Thanks for the reply buck, could you explain why? I've been reading its not about current, just length of the wire, and technically..the speakers are farther away than the subs.

where did you read this?

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

Well, it's a mix of both. But you can cheat sometimes. i.e. 1/0 from the front to a distribution block in the back. you then run 2ft of 4gauge to your 2000w amp. 4g typically only can carry up to 1,500w but because the length is so short it can carry a higher current.

For the subs I would get 10g, speakers will be fine with 14g. It's better to get a slightly higher gauge than to run more current through a piece of wire than it was designed for

 

[Xanthous 10+ year member]

I was reading at crutchfield; Speaker Wire: Choosing and Installing

They don't really mention power going to the speakers, just length of wire when choosing guage. I think I read it correctly..

 

[Heeltoeclutch 10+ year member]

I'm running 16 to my speakers (102W) and 14 to my sub (only 400W) - sounds great and no fires or warm wires. Ignore the sub though since you've got me tripled there //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

 

[Xanthous 10+ year member]

So power does matter..How much will be going through the 10 guage to the actual subs?

(i'll probably do 10 guage to be safe)