wiring questions...

[vandiar2 10+ year member]

alright here is the deal. i am currently running two amps. I have a 4 gauge wire coming to the trunk to a block that has 2 8 gauge wires off of it. I am about to get a 1 ohm stable amp (probably sundown 1500) to wire two 12" 4 ohm dvc subs. my question is.. can I just run another power wire, say an 8 gauge wire from the battery to the trunk and run the 4 channel amp and use the existing 4 gauge wire to power the sundown? that is how I have it pictured... i could only assume I will have to do the big 3 as well. not sure if I need an extra battery or not ( 96 dodge neon, will be running 1500 rms +) if so, what are some battery wiring tips to get it to the main electrical system? still not clear on that. also if I have that 4 gauge wire running to the sub amp, good idea to add another in line fuse close to the amp? thanks guys, might have some other questions.. in the near future //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

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[loopkiller 10+ year member]

You could do that, but it is not the "best" way to do it IMHO. What I would do is replace your stock battery with an AGM style batt and add a matching batt in the trunk. Wire those 2 batts with 1/0 wire between them. You can then use the rear batt as a distro block. Run the size of wire from the back batt to the amps using the wire that matches the imput of the amp. So if your amp accepts 2 gauge, then use 2 gauge. If it accepts 8 gauge, then use 8 gauge.

Always fuse your positive wires as close as you can to the battery on all leads. Fuse size should match the rating of the wire you are using.

 

[dman4486 5,000+ posts]

I would say buy 1/0 for the long run and use your 4awg you already have after distribution

agreed with above as well.....if you will be getting a second batt, then use it as a distro instead of buying a distro.

 

[vandiar2 10+ year member]

You could do that, but it is not the "best" way to do it IMHO. What I would do is replace your stock battery with an AGM style batt and add a matching batt in the trunk. Wire those 2 batts with 1/0 wire between them. You can then use the rear batt as a distro block. Run the size of wire from the back batt to the amps using the wire that matches the imput of the amp. So if your amp accepts 2 gauge, then use 2 gauge. If it accepts 8 gauge, then use 8 gauge.
Always fuse your positive wires as close as you can to the battery on all leads. Fuse size should match the rating of the wire you are using.

one more question kind sir. do the batteries HAVE to match? surely not right? I mean I could run 1/0 to a bigger battery in the trunk, say a yellow top deep cylinder.. from my existing battery and theoretically this would work fine, right? this is assuming I will need an extra battery. If i have everything setup with the big 3, someone told me I might not need an extra battery. don't know, thats why I am asking yall

 

[vandiar2 10+ year member]

You could do that, but it is not the "best" way to do it IMHO. What I would do is replace your stock battery with an AGM style batt and add a matching batt in the trunk. Wire those 2 batts with 1/0 wire between them. You can then use the rear batt as a distro block. Run the size of wire from the back batt to the amps using the wire that matches the imput of the amp. So if your amp accepts 2 gauge, then use 2 gauge. If it accepts 8 gauge, then use 8 gauge.
Always fuse your positive wires as close as you can to the battery on all leads. Fuse size should match the rating of the wire you are using.

and onto this one //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif so I could just run 1/0 from my existing battery to the back battery and everything would be all good so long . I mean no other wiring would be necessary. just trying to understand it. since the front battery is wired with the red pos to the alt, just the run would to the back battery would be sufficient, correct? thanks man

 

[dman4486 5,000+ posts]

and onto this one //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif so I could just run 1/0 from my existing battery to the back battery and everything would be all good so long . I mean no other wiring would be necessary. just trying to understand it. since the front battery is wired with the red pos to the alt, just the run would to the back battery would be sufficient, correct? thanks man

that and then from neg on the rear batt to frame or up to neg on front bat

 

[vandiar2 10+ year member]

that and then from neg on the rear batt to frame or up to neg on front bat

gotcha, thanks man