Wiring gauge?

[specie 10+ year member]

What would happen if you run a big amp, say a Mmats d1400.5hc on 8 guage? Would the amp even turn on? If it does, would it cause it to heat up? My friend wants to borrow my amp but his car is only wired with 8gauge wiring.

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[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

Starving it for current (which is what he would be doing trying to run it anywhere above a nominal volume level) is very bad for amplifier power supplies //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

 

[Gary S 10+ year member]

If it causes it to put out less power it would actually run cooler but not put out it's maximum power. Won't hurt it though, it would actually last longer... as would a race car if you were not racing it and pushing it to the wall.

If the input power is low enough, it might "motor boat"... cycle on and off rapidly... or not turn on at all.

 

[Gary S 10+ year member]

Starving it for current (which is what he would be doing trying to run it anywhere above a nominal volume level) is very bad for amplifier power supplies //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

- How could less power and the resultant lesser amount of heat be bad (power = heat / too much heat = damage)? That makes no sense.