Amp power wire gauge question
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,320
Likes: 4
From: Kyle TX (Because Mojo Made me fill it in)
Amp power wire gauge question
The amp calls for 4 ga power and ground.
If I run the 4 ga power from the battery terminal to a dist block <2ft from the amp and run the 4 ga ground to a dist block <2ft from the amp, can I run 8 ga off the dist blocks to the amp without negative effects?
If I run the 4 ga power from the battery terminal to a dist block <2ft from the amp and run the 4 ga ground to a dist block <2ft from the amp, can I run 8 ga off the dist blocks to the amp without negative effects?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,320
Likes: 4
From: Kyle TX (Because Mojo Made me fill it in)
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 14,475
Likes: 785
From: Las Vegas NV
I couldn't remember what gauge I used so I just checked and I have the same setup. 4ga from battery to dist. block and 8 ga to 2 separate amps. It's only about 8" from the block to the amps but you shouldn't have any problems with 2'.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 18
From: Chicago Illinois
St. Jude Donor '12
i have four gauge power wire (60 amp ANL fuse w/in 18 inches of battery), which i would like to run to a distribution block and then run two 8 gauge wires to two amps (ARC ks500.1 mini and ks125.4 mini).
1) am i understanding it correctly that i should have a fuse between the distribution block and the amps?
2) is it better to use a fused distribution block?
3) most importantly, what amp rating should each fuse have?
1) am i understanding it correctly that i should have a fuse between the distribution block and the amps?
2) is it better to use a fused distribution block?
3) most importantly, what amp rating should each fuse have?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,718
Likes: 20
From: Dyer IN
Cruise-In IX Veteran
you should use a fused distro block but with that said i have done it many times without fusing. a fused distro block is easier then a regular distro block then a fuse holder
50amp should be plenty
50amp should be plenty
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
Likes: 6
From: Sacramento CA
Fused distro block, yes. If you don't use a fuse, the wire becomes the fuse. This is how fires start.
Depends on gauge and distance. You fuse for the wire, not for the equipment.
http://www.bcae1.com/images/swfs/sys...nassistant.swf
This will do it all for you.
Depends on gauge and distance. You fuse for the wire, not for the equipment.
http://www.bcae1.com/images/swfs/sys...nassistant.swf
This will do it all for you.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,320
Likes: 4
From: Kyle TX (Because Mojo Made me fill it in)
That link says I should run 4 ga wires and an 80amp fuse on the dist block for my Powerbass 600.4x (800 rms). So will the 8 ga wires still be ok? Also, I was planning on running a 60 amp fuse at the dist block. Am I still good?
