Wire Gauge question

[Audiophile33 10+ year member]

Please excuse the newbness of this question (I'm just beginning to learn) , but what is the difference when people talk about wire gauges being 4/0 or 1/0 ? Are those two different types of alt gauge or does it mean like 4 gauge then going into alt gauge ? And how would you say this when speaking with someone ? Just one slash zero or what ? Sorry for asking this question, but no one else has really helped me with the answer to it.

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[pavengmike6 10+ year member]

wire guage is the size of the wire. The smaller the number the bigger the wire. If we tell you to run a 1/0 guage then split it to a 4 guage you would go tell the stereo store you need ______ feet of 1 guage wire, a distro block that splits 1 guage to 2 (or more) 4 guage wires and you need _______ feet of 4 guage. You need to make sure your higher number wire is as short as it can be. (goes for ground too) I always match my main power wire with the same size as my ground. (if not bigger for the ground) You ground is just as important as you power wire if not more.

There are different types of wire out there. Flat wire round wire, copper, steel, alum. Not to mention 2 1 guage wires may have a different amount of internal strands per inch which would change the resistance making amps flow through the wire easier. For most of the individuals out here who are not in compitition you do not need to buy the really expensive high strand count wire. Most 1 guage or smaller will do just fine.

The smaller the number the bigger the wire, which means you can push more amps/volts through the wire without running the chance of buring up the wire and

catching the car on fire.

Do not forget the conectors are as important as the wire itself.

go to this web site and look to the right of the screen. It has a lot of differnt tabs you can select to choose the right area you want to look in. I believe it is # 16 that talks about wire.

http://www.bcae1.com/

 

[Audiophile33 10+ year member]

thank you for such an excellent response