What Gauge Wire Should I Put In My Car For My System??

Question

I have a Hifonics TXi 1008D mono block amp that is 1000 watt rms, and a Hifonics TXi 4008 2 channel amp and is 400 watt rms so all together I have 1400 watt rms in my car going to my subs and highs. What gauge wire should i use for all this??? I need some help.

Answer 1

The bigger the better. I would recommend 2 gauge or bigger. to the distribution block. Keep in mind that you may want to upgrade later. With more power comes bigger wire. If you were to run 6 gauge, and want to upgrade. You would have to rip it all out later. Talk about a waste of time and money.

More importantly. Make sure that the charging system is up to the task. Start looking for a high output alternator. If you don't, You may kill the stock one. Do a yahoo search for "Big Three Upgrade" as well.

Answer 2

Get a distribution block, and run o gauge wire to that, then run 4 gauge wire from the distribution block to your amps.

Answer 3

You're looking for at least 4awg if you're running the amp to your boot, if not 2awg.

This is because as the length of the cable increases the power loss across it increases also and it won't carry as much current. Car amps draw huge amounts of current at relatively low voltage (12v). Electricity pylons carry cables that run at stupidly high voltages to minimise the need for massively thick cables as voltage "trasmits" power better, but that isn't an option for us.... so basically, the further you go the thicker you go. ;-)

Use a distribution block where it suits you to hook up the second amp if you've got a good enough gauge coming from the battery to handle the current draw of both amps.

Oh, as an afterthought, bigger really is better, don't compromise your audio system's potential by skimping on thin wires. This also goes for the wiring between the amps and the speakers themselves. Keep lengths only as long as necessary, don't coil the wire up and tuck it away. And I wouldn't worry about your alternator for just 1400wRMS; it will only draw the full amperage at peak musical output (a bass hit for instance) so even if your alternator only puts out 30/40amps you should be good in most cases. Couldn't hurt I guess, if you wanted the peace of mind.

Be prepared to go through a lot of batteries, though ;-) I'm on my third in two years. If you WERE to spend money on your electrical system, buy a round-cell/power cap battery designed for car audio applications as it will last longer and give extra punch, handy if your amps have unregulated power supplies. When you drift into the realms of higher power-draw it seems the anodes/cathodes like to disintegrate, haha.

Answer 4

for the subs i would use bout 6 or up people are gunna say like 1/0 but its a waste of money there do the same with that much power, for the highs 12ga

Answer 5

basically the bigger the better.  1/0 gauge should be best for power wire and 8-12 guage for subs 12 gauge for mids/highs.