Power wire. 8ga.?

[Ericfg]

Is 8 gauge OK?
In my current system my installer installed (?!?) TWO 8 gauge power
wires from the battery to my two amps (one wire for each).
I've been looking to add a single, smaller amp for the front end and
have been therefore looking for a distribution block to help power that
third amp. In looking for said blocks almost all I can find accept
4ga. power leads from the battery and split up into 8ga. out to the
amps.

This raises the question:
A) Should I uninstall the two 8ga. power leads and reinstall one 4ga.?
or
B) Can I shove the 8ga. leads in a 4ga. hole in the dist block and go
from there?

Thoughts?

BTW; amps are: 4x60RMS for the mids, 2x150RMS for the subs (and both
are relatively high current) and I'm looking at a 2x30/35rms for the
front end.

Thanks,
Eric G.

[KU40]

I'd upgrade to a single 4 guage wire, and buy a distro block that has at
least three 8 guage outputs for your amps.


--
KU40

[mfreak]

1 8g wire from the front to back is plenty for your system, you aren't
drawing so much power that you'd need a 4g. I do find it strange that
he ran 2 long 8g runs though, I'd just run one, then have a distro
block in the trunk. That'd be a much better option imo.. 2 wires cost
twice as much, you need 2 fuses near the battery, and there's twice the
probability that you could damage the wire, etc..

I would never mash 2 8g wires into a 4g distro block hole, I dont think
it'd be that secure.. If your distro block has 3+ 8g holes on it, I'd
run the battery to one of em, and the amps to the other 2.

[MOSFET]

>
> I'd upgrade to a single 4 guage wire, and buy a distro block that has at
> least three 8 guage outputs for your amps.
>
I agree with KU40 because although you may not need 4 gauge now, you may in
the future as your system grows and you add other amps and equipment.

Sure, you might not add anything in the future, but IF YOU DO, you will be
REALLY glad you took these steps now.

MOSFET

[MOSFET]

I'm sorry, I had just read KU40's post, and not your original post when I
posted my reply.

OK, IMHO, there's no such thing as too many power wires (or too thick).
Just take a look at my system at:
http://www428.pair.com/mosfet/mtx.html

DON'T PULL ANY WIRES OUT!!!! You may need them for something else in the
future. I would ADD the four gauge and use that for your subwoofer amp
ONLY (it might be overkill NOW, but you may buy a much larger subwoofer amp
in the future, this way you're all set). That will leave you with two eight
gauge wires for your two other amps. This way, you won't need to buy a
distribution block. And your ready for any amp upgrades. That's how I
would do it.

MOSFET

"Ericfg" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Is 8 gauge OK?
> In my current system my installer installed (?!?) TWO 8 gauge power
> wires from the battery to my two amps (one wire for each).
> I've been looking to add a single, smaller amp for the front end and
> have been therefore looking for a distribution block to help power that
> third amp. In looking for said blocks almost all I can find accept
> 4ga. power leads from the battery and split up into 8ga. out to the
> amps.
>
> This raises the question:
> A) Should I uninstall the two 8ga. power leads and reinstall one 4ga.?
> or
> B) Can I shove the 8ga. leads in a 4ga. hole in the dist block and go
> from there?
>
> Thoughts?
>
> BTW; amps are: 4x60RMS for the mids, 2x150RMS for the subs (and both
> are relatively high current) and I'm looking at a 2x30/35rms for the
> front end.
>
> Thanks,
> Eric G.
>

[Ericfg]

Thanks, gentlemen, for all your wise suggestions.
In the end I think I'll go the 8ga. dist. block route. Why you may
ask? Well, I tell ya why; The vehicles closing in on the end of it's
useful life as are some of the components so I'll scavenge the best
parts of the system when I sell it and reinstall them in the new ride
(along with oodles of 4ga. wire :) ).
MOSFET, nice system page. I notice you make no mention of any battery
or alternator upgrade. May I ask why? (oops, I see the battery on the
last picture)
Thanks again,
Eric

[MOSFET]

.. I notice you make no mention of any battery
> or alternator upgrade. May I ask why? (oops, I see the battery on the
> last picture)
> Thanks again,
> Eric
>

My car SERIOUSLY needs an alternator upgrade. The problem, however, is that
they do not make any aftermarket HO alternators that will fit my car
(believe me, I have checked a BUNCH of sites and made a BUNCH of phone
calls). Yes, I could have one custom made, but that would be SERIOUS bucks.
It has also been sugested that I have my existing alternator rebuilt with
hand wound heavy duty windings (which again, would not be cheap).

So, for now (until I blow the thing), I'm stuck with the stock alternator
which really sucks because in every other car I've ever had, I've upgraded
my alternator to a HO model.

MOSFET

[Ericfg]

"HO" means high output?

[MOSFET]

Yes.

"Ericfg" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> "HO" means high output?
>

[Matt Ion]

Ericfg wrote:
> "HO" means high output?

Correct.

Most cars have stock alternators that are designed to power their factory
electrical systems and not a whole lot more. The more current your stereo
draws, the more of a load it puts on that alternator. If it can't provide
enough current, then all the capacitors and deep-cycle batteries in the world
won't help.

[MOSFET]

> Most cars have stock alternators that are designed to power their factory
> electrical systems and not a whole lot more. The more current your stereo
> draws, the more of a load it puts on that alternator. If it can't provide
> enough current, then all the capacitors and deep-cycle batteries in the
world
> won't help.
>

Too true!

MOSFET

[Ericfg]

How 'bout this:

My two 8ga. power wires*, each connected to the 'in' on a capacitor.
The *three* 8ga. power wires off the 'out' on the cap, one each to
each amp. Does that sound reasonable?

Or should I go battery to dist. block to cap to dist. block to amps.
That sounds silly/like overkill. To me anyways. :)

Thanks for your help. I'm learning and enjoying this discussion at the
same time

Eric G.

* I have two power wires from my battery, one each to the two amps I
currently run.

[Matt Ion]

Ericfg wrote:
> How 'bout this:
>
> My two 8ga. power wires*, each connected to the 'in' on a capacitor.
> The *three* 8ga. power wires off the 'out' on the cap, one each to
> each amp. Does that sound reasonable?

Except for the fact that having a cap at all is WAY overkill for your system...
sure :)

[Ericfg]

>
> Except for the fact that having a cap at all is WAY overkill for your system...
> sure :)

Really? Why? The system ain't huge but it *does* draw some current,
and I do have some headlight and interior light fluctuation.
So if a small cap can help that, and serve to help with my distribution
issues why not?

[Mannyb18b]

MOSFET Wrote:
> I'm sorry, I had just read KU40's post, and not your original post when
> I
> posted my reply.
>
> OK, IMHO, there's no such thing as too many power wires (or too thick).
> Just take a look at my system at:
> http://www428.pair.com/mosfet/mtx.html
>
> DON'T PULL ANY WIRES OUT!!!! You may need them for something else in
> the
> future. I would ADD the four gauge and use that for your subwoofer amp
> ONLY (it might be overkill NOW, but you may buy a much larger subwoofer
> amp
> in the future, this way you're all set). That will leave you with two
> eight
> gauge wires for your two other amps. This way, you won't need to buy a
> distribution block. And your ready for any amp upgrades. That's how I
> would do it.
>
> MOSFET
>
> "Ericfg" > wrote in message
> ups.com...
> > Is 8 gauge OK?
> > In my current system my installer installed (?!?) TWO 8 gauge power
> > wires from the battery to my two amps (one wire for each).
> > I've been looking to add a single, smaller amp for the front end and
> > have been therefore looking for a distribution block to help power
> that
> > third amp. In looking for said blocks almost all I can find accept
> > 4ga. power leads from the battery and split up into 8ga. out to the
> > amps.
> >
> > This raises the question:
> > A) Should I uninstall the two 8ga. power leads and reinstall one
> 4ga.?
> > or
> > B) Can I shove the 8ga. leads in a 4ga. hole in the dist block and go
> > from there?
> >
> > Thoughts?
> >
> > BTW; amps are: 4x60RMS for the mids, 2x150RMS for the subs (and both
> > are relatively high current) and I'm looking at a 2x30/35rms for the
> > front end.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Eric G.
> >

You run 4 caps?

I will now take whatever you say with a grain of salt.


--
Mannyb18b

[Matt Ion]

Ericfg wrote:
>>Except for the fact that having a cap at all is WAY overkill for your system...
>>sure :)
>
>
> Really? Why? The system ain't huge but it *does* draw some current,
> and I do have some headlight and interior light fluctuation.
> So if a small cap can help that, and serve to help with my distribution
> issues why not?

Your lights fluctuate because your alternator isn't producing enough current. A
cap is a band-aid solution at best.

[MOSFET]

> Your lights fluctuate because your alternator isn't producing enough
current. A
> cap is a band-aid solution at best.
>
True. And you will eventually destroy your alternator anyway drawing this
kind of current. Trust me, I HAVE!!!!

MOSFET

[FasDeth]

Mannyb18b wrote:
> MOSFET Wrote:
>> I'm sorry, I had just read KU40's post, and not your original post when
>> I
>> posted my reply.
>>
>> OK, IMHO, there's no such thing as too many power wires (or too thick).
>> Just take a look at my system at:
>> http://www428.pair.com/mosfet/mtx.html
>>
>> DON'T PULL ANY WIRES OUT!!!! You may need them for something else in
>> the
>> future. I would ADD the four gauge and use that for your subwoofer amp
>> ONLY (it might be overkill NOW, but you may buy a much larger subwoofer
>> amp
>> in the future, this way you're all set). That will leave you with two
>> eight
>> gauge wires for your two other amps. This way, you won't need to buy a
>> distribution block. And your ready for any amp upgrades. That's how I
>> would do it.
>>
>> MOSFET
>>
>> "Ericfg" > wrote in message
>> ups.com...
>>> Is 8 gauge OK?
>>> In my current system my installer installed (?!?) TWO 8 gauge power
>>> wires from the battery to my two amps (one wire for each).
>>> I've been looking to add a single, smaller amp for the front end and
>>> have been therefore looking for a distribution block to help power
>> that
>>> third amp. In looking for said blocks almost all I can find accept
>>> 4ga. power leads from the battery and split up into 8ga. out to the
>>> amps.
>>>
>>> This raises the question:
>>> A) Should I uninstall the two 8ga. power leads and reinstall one
>> 4ga.?
>>> or
>>> B) Can I shove the 8ga. leads in a 4ga. hole in the dist block and go
>>> from there?
>>>
>>> Thoughts?
>>>
>>> BTW; amps are: 4x60RMS for the mids, 2x150RMS for the subs (and both
>>> are relatively high current) and I'm looking at a 2x30/35rms for the
>>> front end.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Eric G.
>>>
>
> You run 4 caps?
>
> I will now take whatever you say with a grain of salt.
>
>
I think it is 5 caps... If your quoting Mosfet's post.
MF> I use five capacitors (one for each amp and one next to the
battery) for a total of four farads; Optima Yellow-top battery; Phoenix
Gold 200 amp circuit breaker, and PG connectors; 4 gauge power cables
used throughout

Five.... 1.2.3.4.5.... 5 Caps.!!
Wasted money for one.. (and one next to the battery) useless IMHO..
I ran 1/0 from bat - distro. 4ga to the amps. Overkill but anticipated
future upgrades.. Still waiting on the upgrades :)

No Caps Here!

FD