wiring up amps.

[streamer]

guys...i actually have an alpine amp someone is abt so sell me but im just wondering to get it wired up with it in the boot battery compartment, how much would it cost?

thanks guys

[Nav2k]

r u gonna do it urself?

how much power does the amp give out?

8GA cabling + other wires = $40 roughly

4GA = 80 or 90

install urself = free

install others = ~70 or 80

[JR]

How long is a piece of string? If it is just for a set of speakers, and you have no plans for anything bigger, 8 guage is probably ok. If you plan yo go to subs, 4 guages is you best bet, install once keep happy. you will need to run rcas from the head unit and a trigger wire. A fuse holder is the same weather it is 4 or 8 guage, so its just a matter of if you want to fork out for the bigger wire. In a 33 is is quite easy because you only have a matter of metres to get to the battery. A metre tops is probably all you will need. Remember you will need speaker wire to get back to you fronts as well. If you are doing it yourself, $50 - $60 as a pretty much top guide, depending on where you mount the amp. if you get it done pro, you could be looking at over $120 mark, if they wire speakers and all for you. This method usually leads to a longer life span due to less stress But if u have a little knowledge, this job will be quite easy.

[Nav2k]

if u dont do it urself, go to a proper pro

ie. not JB , strathfield or autobarn

i had my first amp install done by strathfield, i gave them good wires etc. they used shitty wires cos they couldnt fit it and i only knew what happend 1 year later cos i had no idea about car audio then. (they used 4GA from the battery like i gave them, then as soon as they got under the carpets, used 16GA to the amp, yes 16GA..not 8GA, no dist block or anything)

i ended up ripping everything out, doing it properly, which u will too later down the track im 99% sure

[SXY R33]

use 4 or 2 GA wire's to the amp coz they suck a lot of current, no matter what size amp use a thick cable as u possibly can, other wise your amp can cut off and also only reach half of it's protental due to it not being able to get current from the car batt.

[JR]

2 Guage? How big is this amp? My m1000 is only using 4 guage and its over 1100 rms. I wouldnt say any bigger then 4 guage.

what type of 2 GA do you use? only stuff i have seen is welding cable, and it works, but its not as good as stuff for stereo's

[Fhrx]

We're getting a tad carried away here. Running a single Alpine amp is not going to require 2AWG cable.

As for the cable itself, much like everything else, you'll pay for quality. Realistically for wiring an amp up, including the speakers etc will set you back between $130-$200 for brands like Stinger and Phoenix Gold and between $250-$330 for brands like Streetwires.

JR, you asked where you can get 2AWG from? I can get it for you from any of the above mentioned brands. I use 1/0AWG in my own S15.

[JR]

I am from rockhampton, we are waaaay behind. They have 4 guage off the shelf, most places, but 0 guage is even as rare as rocking horse poo

[SXY R33]

2gu wire is not rare if u are in the electronics field, the thickeir the wire the more power that the amp can suck out, prehapes 2gu on this set up is to much , bit still i would recommend it, i have 2 gu running my kicker Amp.

Also what is equaly import is the wire running from the amp to the speakers. seen so many people buy good quilty wire to the amp from the battery, but have thin wire running to the speakers.

i paid $30 dollars a meter for my wire from the amp to my subs from stinger.

[Nav2k]

use the calculator on www.caraudioaustralia.com

if ur feeding 1000rms over 5 metres, ur gonna want more than 4Ga.

otherwise ur probably not getting the full potential of ur amp.

go to www.caraudioaustralia.com then tutorials and have a look if u dont beleive me

[Fhrx]

It is one of the most overlooked aspects of car audio.

You don't build a nitro funny car and run it with quarter inch plastic fuel lines do you?

The same way, your amps don't function strongly unless they have the current to do so.

[Nav2k]

amen

2ga is very common, jaycar even sell it

welding stuff is 0ga and thats specially bought

and it is good for car audio setups, i think u'll find most people use this 1/0 ga cabling for many systems, wether competing or not.

[phoenixgoldskyline]

Hey guys

Even thowe im new to this skylineaustralia forum. i still know my fair share of car audio knowledge. First of all find out what amp rating fuse's are being used on the amp. What type of amp class is the amp? mono block ect ect ?. Wonce you find out what the rating is of ya fuse, then you will be able to make a good choice on what gauge cable you should be running, and keep in mind if you are going to upgrade your system in the near future it may pay to spend that little bit more and go a bit thicker. The run of length of wire you use will also play a big part on the sive you will have to get. I am currently running 0 gauge and i everything is fine, but rember as soon as you go up size's in wire componet's like fuse holders, get expensive so just keep that in mind.

hope that helps

shaun

[Nav2k]

yeh

for me running 2 sets of 4GA with dist's and fuse holders were cheaper than 1 set of 2GA with it's dist and its fuse holder (:

2GA is damn rare, 1/0 is easier to find, but my system doesnt need that huge........ (yet?)