4 gauge power wire for amp

Jeremy Laukkonen is automotive and tech writer for numerous major trade publications as well as the creator of a popular blog and video game startup. A fan of EVs since the early s, he stays up-to-date on the myriad complex systems that power battery electric vehicles. Wiring in one amplifier can be complicated enough, especially when you're dealing with a factory car stereo, and the situation just gets more complex when you add multiple amplifiers to the equation. You can wire two amplifiers, or even multiple amps, in one car audio system, but it takes some extra planning. The main factors that you need to consider when you wire in two or more amps are how you will deal with the power cable, grounding each amp, and whether or not the remote turn-on signal from your head unit is strong enough to split between multiple amps.

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Content:

• Ampacity Charts
• Wire Size Guide: What Size Wire Do I Need?
• Pro Series 100% OFC Copper 4 Gauge Amp Kit | True Gauge Complete Amp Wiring Kit | Elite Audio
• Best Amp Wiring Kits: Improve Your Car’s Audio Quality
• Can You Wire in Multiple Amps or Are You Limited to Just One?
• How To Pick A Good Amp Wiring Kit + 5 Top Picks From A Pro Installer
• Amp Installation Kits
• Wire Gauge Chart For All 44 AWG Wires (+10-200 Amp Wire Sizes)

WATCH RELATED VIDEO: The Importance of True Gauge Power \u0026 Ground Cable

Ampacity Charts

What you might not know is that there are some gimmicks being played by some companies and you could end up getting ripped off! A good amp kit is made of quality wiring and includes all the basic items you need for most installation — including wiring with enough length. Zip ties help keep the installation neat and hold wiring in place during installation. Crimp terminals help you get a solid and reliable connection that can handle high power demands. You need to try to anticipate having long enough wiring for your vehicle plus a small amount of extra length if possible.

That means a long enough power cable to reach from the battery positive terminal and fuse holder to the amplifier along with the additional length that comes from bends and curves. Similarly, the remote wire and RCA cables should be long enough too. Longer wiring is fine and is a little bit of a bonus as it means you can move the amplifier to different mounting locations if necessary. A good quality fuse holder is essentially all you really need.

However, there are a few differences that may fit your installation better than others. It can also make a big difference as to how well it holds up over time due to vibration, heat, and moisture. For example, lower-cost fuse holders like those in the picture above are found in many budget amp kits.

Be aware though that molded fuse holders are normally only rated for smaller amps and use 10 gauge wiring. ANL rectangular, left and AGU rounded, right fuse holders are great and allow you to easily see the fuse element in case it blows. Also, they look great! Rectangular fuse holders and round glass-type fuse holders are nice and have a larger conductive area for current to pass through.

Additionally, they tend to be more resistant to moisture and dirt entering them. For example, some amp kits sold as 8 gauge are in fact actually closer to 10 gauge or smaller wire. From the outside, it appears fine and legitimate.

However, after stripping the insulation off you can see that the wire itself is smaller than expected if you know what to look for and the insulation is much larger than necessary.

A comparison of true 4 AWG wire center versus 2 fakes. Notice the size of the wire conductors vs. You might not be aware but many products with braided wire like amp and speaker wire are no longer produced with pure copper. Copper-coated aluminum CCA wiring is produced by using a combination of copper over aluminum wire in order to reduce cost. Do be aware that aluminum wire can less flexible to a degree than pure copper wire but it also depends greatly on the brand quality.

I f you prefer to buy pure copper wire be sure to look closely to avoid being misled by the labeling and advertisements used. I prefer pure copper wire personally and recommend it for installations which will deliver very large amounts of power and the current drawn will be very high. Ring terminals are included in some amplifier kits and are fantastic for making a solid and reliable power connection for both the positive and negative wiring cables.

When in doubt, remember that many amps use a maximum size of 8 or 4 gauge wire. Using a larger wire than an amp requires is actually a waste of money and it can be harder to deal with. All car amps have an efficiency rating which is because some electrical current is wasted and turned into heat.

Current Amps Wire Gauge AWG 2 80 4 46 8 33 10 We can do a little bit of math to get a rough estimate in order to choose a safe size. Remember to always use the Root Mean Square RMS ratings as those are the actual, realistic power ratings that an amp should be able to actually provide to speakers.

As you can see, a class D amplifier uses less electrical current and can often use a smaller power wire size more than 10A in this case! This is a wiring kit with an easy-to-install AGU fuse holder and some seriously good wiring.

The positive and negative power wires are made with copper-coated aluminum CCA wiring to keep costs down but still remain highly flexible and installer-friendly. The AGU fuse holder is simple to install as it just requires stripping off a small amount of the positive power cable then inserting it into the fuse holder receptacle before tightening the fastening screw.

Both the wire insulation and fuse holder plastic housing look distinctively different and will really set your installation apart. Want a great kit but need to keep costs down? Take my advice and head on over to see the current price and wonderful reviews at Amazon now. The NVX XKIT42 really hits a sweet spot between spending way too much for a pro-level 4 gauge amp wiring kit in your local car stereo shop or retail store and getting a budget-priced kit.

Head over to check it out and find the best price over at Amazon. A step above the others. Stinger has always been known for its great installation wire, stereo installation kits, and a variety of aftermarket items that are always some of the best you can buy. The SK is no exception. Much like the larger NVX XKIT42 it features stretch wire loom for a clean installation and protection in the engine compartment as well as a compact but high-conducting fuse holder. Conductors on the connectors are tinned for corrosion resistance.

RCA cables are shielded and audiophile-grade and are 17 ft in length to accommodate nearly all installations. Your dream system is waiting for you! It only takes a few seconds to find out why it's one of the best selling amp kits at Amazon today. This kit by Belva is a great cost-cutting way to get good amp performance in your ride. Thanks to the design installation is simple and requires no additional crimp contacts.

Just take it apart, strip your power wire, and insert it into the contact points. The included RCA cables feature a helical-twisted construction to minimize noise and interference and are a wonderful 17 ft in length! The fine wiring conductor count also is a step above lesser brands.

Take the next step and check out the fantastic Belva 8 ga. Excellent RCA cables, too! The SK is a kit I really like. One major reason is that during installations, amp wiring with a pre-installed fuse holder like this one made the installation process that much easier and faster.

It uses a standard automotive fuse to protect the positive wire from shorts. Included is everything else you need. Not only that, but quality ring terminals are included for a really tight install and no power-robbing poor connections on the battery and ground wiring. The wiring features attractive matte insulation but what I really love about it is the RCA cables which feature shielded twisted-pair wiring for reduced noise and excellent sound conductivity.

Besides, they just look great! Head over and get one of the best values for your dollar at Amazon right now. Spend a few more dollars for a kit you can count on to avoid problems when it comes time to install your system. Contents What makes a good amp wiring kit? The basics to look for Included items The best affordable fuse holders Avoid getting scammed!

A warning about wire quality Pure copper vs. Final thoughts on amp kits. This means that wire manufactured and sold should be labeled according to this chart. Example For a 4-channel class D amp with 75W per channel we can find: Total max.

Fantastic 4 ga. Check on Amazon. Belva BAK82 8 Gauge. Stinger SK 10 Gauge. High-quality 10 ga kit that won't let you down.

Wire Size Guide: What Size Wire Do I Need?

Picking exactly the right wire size is not an easy task at all. Different AWG American Wire Gauge wires have different diameters, cross-sections, and allow only a limited number of amps to flow through them. To adequately figure out what size AWG wire you need, you require at least a wire gauge chart. AWG is a logarithmic stepped standardized wire gauge system used since Example of a good simplification: The higher the AWG gauge wire numbers like 14, 16, 20, 40 , the thinner the wire.

Pro Series 100% OFC Copper 4 Gauge Amp Kit | True Gauge Complete Amp Wiring Kit | Elite Audio

Conductor sizes AWG related to maximum current through a 12V electrical copper wire and length of cable - are indicated below:. Failure to use an adequate size may result in a fire. Always secure electric wires with fuses. Always oversize wires if voltage drop is critical. The maximum current in a 12 V gauge 6 The maximum current in a gauge 10 5. Add standard and customized parametric components - like flange beams, lumbers, piping, stairs and more - to your Sketchup model with the Engineering ToolBox - SketchUp Extension - enabled for use with the amazing, fun and free SketchUp Make and SketchUp Pro. We don't collect information from our users. Only emails and answers are saved in our archive.

Best Amp Wiring Kits: Improve Your Car’s Audio Quality

JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. Call Now for Fast, Friendly Service When shopping for wires and other car audio accessories, one of the most important things to look for is a brand you can trust.

Can You Wire in Multiple Amps or Are You Limited to Just One?

Vehicle Specific. Universal SUV. Subwoofer Specific. American Bass. DB Drive. Digital Designs.

How To Pick A Good Amp Wiring Kit + 5 Top Picks From A Pro Installer

Started in Pittsburg, KS in we've since grown to numerous retail locations around the Ozarks and have greatly expanded our online offerings. Creative Audio is an automotive, marine and home lifestyle company that provides excellent product, innovation, and custom installations. We created an atmosphere that keeps customers coming back for more. We are home to very creative installers and innovators, and we pride ourselves on giving the best customer service in the market. Give us a call today and you'll see that we strive for nothing less than Five-Star service. Amazing sound starts with amazing connection. To achieve maximum performance a system requires clean power.

Amp Installation Kits

Estimated read time: 6 minutes 15 seconds. Want to read later? So you just got your amp and your sub and now you need to hook it up. How do you know what gauge wire you need for your amp?

Wire Gauge Chart For All 44 AWG Wires (+10-200 Amp Wire Sizes)

Vincent Talbot. October 1, If you like music, and installing your own audio systems in your vehicle you will need to do a little math, unfortunately. Armed with a simple formula you can be sure that your system will not be restricted because the wires are not able to deliver the needed power to your amp.

Please note that Audiosavings audio engineers have tested this wire against 10 other brand names. We did all this research after getting complaints about certain other wires we used to carry. Many other brands did not measure to 4 gauge like our Rockville wire. They had thick insulation but they were short on the wire. This cable is standard American wire gauge thickness. This is another reason our conductivity is better than anything else at this price point.

Whether you have a 30 amp or a 40 amp breaker, wire size is important. Wire is sold based on several factors. Gauge is a measurement of a wire, specifically its diameter.