I was gonna run power for my carpc but decided to wait and get some amp wiring for a future amp. What gauge would be good to get for any type of amp? And is it okay to get liek Rockford fasgate amp kit from like best buy?

Thanks

 

It depends on what power is produced by your amp. Some call for 8g wire...some call for 4g wire. I would always suggest running at least 4g from your batter to a distribution block,,,then depending on the amp either 8g or 4g from distribution block to amp....Also, use same gage wire for your ground as close as possible to help eliminate noise...Make sure RCA's/speaker wire are run opposite side of car from each other. Or at least rca/speaker up the middle console. The power wire from battery should be run down passenger side of car. this is what I did, and have zero noise and no heavy draw on the electricial system...I am sure there are people here than can go into more detail. I hope this helps......Happy New Year everyone....

 

+1

 

Yeah, it depends on the power but I'm using 4 gauge and am pleased.

 

i like to run the thickest wire i can at all locations

less resistance

 

The difference in resistance between #4 or #8 wire is negligible since we are talking about lengths of less than 20ft.

According to common wiring pratices in industry the conductor size is selected based on 1.5 to 2 times the maximum current expected. For car audio, I have come across a recommendation of #8 wire for up to 30Amps and #4 for up to 60Amps.

I have seen some installs where they used #4 wire, but the device connections could only take up to #8 wire... so they cut some of the strands so it would go into the terminals --- duhhhh.

As Lsmith9523 pointed out, some of the better installs I have seen use #4 wire from the battery to a distribution block and then either #8 or #10 with in-line fusing to the individual components.

 

i use 0 awg from battery to battery

and use 0 awg from battery to distribution blocks

and 0 awg from DB to mono amp

and 4 awg from DB to mid and hi amp

 

Sounds like you added about 50 lbs of copper to your car

 

at least

 

Sorry must Hi-Jack for a second....what do you guys think should be used for the JL stealth box with w3's and the JL 500/1 amp. They guy at sound advice said I can get away with the 8g and then some other place told me it had to be 4g. What you think about JL wires?

 

For my 1 10" sub and amp I was told the same thing. You can do 8 but 4 is better. Since it was pretty much the same price I went with 4.

 

http://knukonceptz.com/ has some of the highest quality wiring for the price out there. I personally used their 4 guage kit since it wasn't much more than the 8 guage and allows for upgrade room later on

 

4 gage from battery to distribution block...at least 8 gage to amps,,,,at least 16 gage to the stealth box...JMO.....