Wiring Questions for Amp Setup (Grounds?)

[Kevlar 10+ year member]

Ok, so I have a Hifonics 1606D that will be powering an FI Q 10" sub. My plan is to do the Big 3 mod with KnuKonceptz KLM wire, as the added cost of the Kolossus wire doesn't seem to be worth it for my application. Soon, I'd like to add a 4-channel amp as well, to power my components. I'm going to do a run of 1/0 to the trunk, probably also the KLM wire, to leave me room to upgrade (unless the Kolossus is really worth the extra $30 for this use? Opinions?) I'm trying to decide what I should do about connecting the power wire to the amp. Should I trim the end of the 1/0 and run it straight to the power terminal, get a 1/0 to 4 AWG reducer, or go ahead and get a fused distribution block and run 4 AWG to the amp? The last option is probably the best, but I'm on a budget right now, and that would be an easy upgrade for later.

Next question: What should I do about the ground for the amp? Would a short length of 4 AWG to a ground location in the trunk be sufficient? My hesitation is that I know I should match my power and ground gauges, but the amp only accepts 4 AWG anyway, and I'll potentially be running 1/0 to the amp, more or less.

Last question: when I add a multi-channel amp, and split the 1/0 power wire into two 4 AWG wires for the amps using a distribution block, what should I do for the grounds? Can I simply run a 4 AWG ground from each amp to a shared grounding point in the trunk, or do I need another distribution block for the grounds?

Thanks for any help in advance!

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[budget76 10+ year member]

Ok, so I have a Hifonics 1606D that will be powering an FI Q 10" sub. My plan is to do the Big 3 mod with KnuKonceptz KLM wire, as the added cost of the Kolossus wire doesn't seem to be worth it for my application. Soon, I'd like to add a 4-channel amp as well, to power my components. I'm going to do a run of 1/0 to the trunk, probably also the KLM wire, to leave me room to upgrade (unless the Kolossus is really worth the extra $30 for this use? Opinions?) I'm trying to decide what I should do about connecting the power wire to the amp. Should I trim the end of the 1/0 and run it straight to the power terminal, get a 1/0 to 4 AWG reducer, or go ahead and get a fused distribution block and run 4 AWG to the amp? The last option is probably the best, but I'm on a budget right now, and that would be an easy upgrade for later.
Next question: What should I do about the ground for the amp? Would a short length of 4 AWG to a ground location in the trunk be sufficient? My hesitation is that I know I should match my power and ground gauges, but the amp only accepts 4 AWG anyway, and I'll potentially be running 1/0 to the amp, more or less.

Last question: when I add a multi-channel amp, and split the 1/0 power wire into two 4 AWG wires for the amps using a distribution block, what should I do for the grounds? Can I simply run a 4 AWG ground from each amp to a shared grounding point in the trunk, or do I need another distribution block for the grounds?

Thanks for any help in advance!

Lets see if I can answer everything. First, for the power, buy this guys distro block and reduce it to 4awg http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3270437#post3270437. Don't trim the 1/0, waste of expensive wire. I have done the trimming method, and don't reccomend it. Looked like crap, and I hated it. Buy an inline fuse to put near the batt, and this dist block with the $$ you're saving not getting the kolossus. AFAIK only big difference is in the flexibility of the wire.

4awg will be fine for ground. If the amp only accepts 4awg, I would think it'd be plenty sufficient for the power you'll be pushing. My dumb*** self was running 1k watts through 8awg wire. No fires, but now i've got 0ga and 4awg run.

You can use the same ground spot. Make sure to sand/grind/scrape the paint off that area.

think that's everything

 

[Kevlar 10+ year member]

Thanks for the response!

I actually had one other question - I'd like to rig my sub/amp setup so that I can remove it for autocrosses, by using some sort of wing-nut mounting bolt setup for the box, and mounting the amp on the top of the box. For the power, I was thinking of using a 4 AWG quick disconnect featuring power and ground leads. Is that going to adversely affect the current carrying ability of the wires?

 

[Rich B 5,000+ posts]

That Kicker distribution block will accept 0 ga without a reducer, just have to remove the sleeve it comes shipped with for 4ga.

 

[Kevlar 10+ year member]

Oh yeah, also, would it be better to get a fused distro block? KnuKonceptz has one for $15 that will suit my needs (though they are out of stock right now).

 

[budget76 10+ year member]

I'd get a fused distro block, but the inline fuse I suggested would work as well if you get a non-fused. You MUST have a fuse somewhere, unless you like replacing your amp. It's a good precaution. I would have lost my amp the third day I had it if I didn't have an inline fuse. Woulda sucked:*******:

 

[Kevlar 10+ year member]

Yeah, but an inline fuse on the 1/0 should probably be around 200 amps, right? That's over the carrying capacity of 4 gauge (~140 A), so if there was a short in the 4, it would burn out the wire before blowing the main 1/0 fuse, right?

 

[budget76 10+ year member]

sorry, I'm not the right person to ask for fuse sizes. I'm still pretty new to the audio world, and haven't been through fuse sizes yet. Blew an 80amp with 8awg, though, all i've experienced.

 

[kross 10+ year member]

Yeah, but an inline fuse on the 1/0 should probably be around 200 amps, right? That's over the carrying capacity of 4 gauge (~140 A), so if there was a short in the 4, it would burn out the wire before blowing the main 1/0 fuse, right?

That's why distribution blocks have fuses, in addition to the fuse in the 1/0 by the battery.

 

[spoonraker 10+ year member]

You will need a fuse on the 1/0 immediately after the battery, and if you use a distro block you will need a fuse on everything after the distro block. Using a fused distro obviously makes this simpler.