Wire Gauge question

[soul05 10+ year member]

Hi, I have a question about wire gauges. This will be my first system, ever, so i wanted to make sure I get the right things without wasting money. I got a Image Dynamics IDQ 12 inch and will soon get an amp for the sub. The amp would have around 500 watts. So what Wire Gauge do I need?

Click to read more...

 

[amr952 10+ year member]

Probably about 4-6 will be good. Do you plan on upgrading eventually, because if you are I would just go ahead and run my car with 1/0. It will save you money in the long run. Welding Supply You can get some good and reasonable priced wire there.

 

[RandyJ 10+ year member]

You mean for PWR wire? A little help on what amp it is woudl help. But as a general idear...

P=IE

I=P/E

I=500/14.4

~35A.

8awg should be fine in this situation.

 

[RandyJ 10+ year member]

Probably about 4-6 will be good. Do you planning on upgrading eventually, because if you are I would just go ahead and run my car with 1/0. It will save you money in the long run. Welding Supply You can get some good and reasonable priced wire there.

Some people honestly stick with equipment that does not require 0/1AWG, and in that case, it would only be a PITA and an extra, uneeded expense.

 

[amr952 10+ year member]

Some people honestly stick with equipment that does not require 0/1AWG, and in that case, it would only be a PITA and an extra, uneeded expense.

I agree, but also some people do not stick with the same thing. I know because I invested in smaller wire and ended up needing something bigger so it was a waste of money.

Hence the question "Do you plan on upgrading eventually"

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[soul05 10+ year member]

well i probably wont upgrade because im selling my current car within a year. But I do plann on using the current equipment in my new car next year. But for the time being, this will be the one and only system i'll ever get.

 

[soul05 10+ year member]

i was looking at the memphis audio mc500d or a rockford fosgate 501bd. If you guys can suggest a different amp to me, that would be great. Today I finally grasped the Ohms thing. So, im still pretty noobie

 

[RandyJ 10+ year member]

I agree, but also some people do not stick with the same thing. I know because I invested in smaller wire and ended up needing something bigger so it was a waste of money.
Hence the question "Do you plan on upgrading eventually"

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I'm sorry. I missed the "Do" in your sentence.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/blush.gif.99bc659ee2012b7d826165e26fb5eebe.gif

 

[amr952 10+ year member]

well i probably wont upgrade because im selling my current car within a year. But I do plann on using the current equipment in my new car next year. But for the time being, this will be the one and only system i'll ever get.

Sounds good then I would go ahead and run 6.

 

[amr952 10+ year member]

I'm sorry. I missed the "Do" in your sentence.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/blush.gif.99bc659ee2012b7d826165e26fb5eebe.gif

No problem, easy mistake. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[preacher 10+ year member]

So in my car I have 2 aura rpm2300 amps.

Thats one running bridged for the sub and the other for the front stage. That should be 170X2 and 540X1. That's 880 watts? I divide that by 14.4 and get about 60 amps (61.1). What's the right wire gauge for that if I'm never going to upgrade? Is 4 ga enough?

Thanks

 

[amr952 10+ year member]

Read Section 16.

If you dont plan on upgrading go ahead and run 4 or 6.