Amp Wiring/fuse question |
Amp Wiring/fuse question |
Dec 30, 2004 - 6:37 AM |
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Enthusiast Joined Aug 24, '04 From London Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
Right, I’ve got 4 amps, 4 10” subs and 2 powercaps. The intention is to run the amps off of a FUSED distribution block (1 into 4) and another distribution block for the caps (1 into 2) My old setup of 2 amps required a 30amp fuse and 40amp fuse on the block and there was a 70amp fuse on the main 4 gauge cable really close to the battery. My question is that now, aside from these 2 amps, I’ve got a further 2 amps that require a 40amp fuse and a 60amp fuse, this takes the total amps upto 170 and will obviously blow the 70amp fuse in the main cable. I’ve never seen any AGU fuses rated this high and I was wondering, am I being overkill with the fuse in the battery splice (as everything else is individually fused) or should I not be pulling this sort of amperage from one piece of 4 gauge and should I run another piece instead?
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Dec 30, 2004 - 7:43 AM |
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Enthusiast Joined Dec 19, '02 From West of Atlanta Currently Offline Reputation: 1 (100%) |
4ga is good for up to about 150 amps. so running another piece of 4ga is an option. or you could run 2ga and split it to all four amps. agu fuses do not come that large you will need to use an anl fuse or get a circuit breaker. remember the breaker by the battery is there to protect the wire. if you get into a wreck and the wire gets cut and it isn't fused you will start a fire. it is not optional.
also if you are using quality amplifiers that are actually pulling 170 amps you are gonna put a hurting on your alternator. stock is only 70 amps output. you may want to upgrade. |
Dec 30, 2004 - 7:52 AM |
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Enthusiast Joined Aug 24, '04 From London Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
Thats cool, well my setup is as follows:
1 x amp rated 2 x 75w RMS 1 x amp rated 2 x 100w RMS 2 x monoblock amps rated 1 x 400w RMS @ 2 Ohm each (2 subs off of each amp) Its actually the smallest amp thats got 1 of the 40 amp fuses even though its not very powerful?? Do you really think I need to upgrade to 2 gauge based on this?? And also what does upgrading the alt involve, is it costly? Thanks for your help!! |
Dec 31, 2004 - 3:19 PM |
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Enthusiast Joined Nov 8, '04 From Carmi, Illinois Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
why do you need 4 gauge or 2 gauge? you dont need that big of wire....up to 14 gauge is fine for all your audio wiring needs.... Speaker wire isn't as vital as power and ground, because you're dealing with high voltage, low current AC voltage for speakers, much like wall outlets in a house, as opposed to high current DC voltage for power and ground.
Generally, this is my rule of thumb: for component speakers (midbass, midrange, or tweeters) 18-16AWG is fine. For subwoofers, 14-12AWG is plenty. Anything you choose to use of a larger gauge will really only be for looks, as there will be no electrical advantage to larger wire. This post has been edited by Scarrell: Dec 31, 2004 - 3:20 PM -------------------- i want a stereo so loud, it blows womens clothes off.
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Dec 31, 2004 - 3:29 PM |
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Enthusiast Joined Jan 8, '04 From LA Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
Someone's math is way off, as 150 amps is around 14,000 Ws
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Jan 1, 2005 - 1:27 AM |
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Enthusiast Joined Dec 19, '02 From West of Atlanta Currently Offline Reputation: 1 (100%) |
QUOTE(shid @ Dec 31, 2004 - 4:29 PM) Someone's math is way off, as 150 amps is around 14,000 Ws [right][snapback]228650[/snapback][/right] I think your math is off. Wattage divided by voltage = amperage 14000w / 12v = 1166.66amps And that formula is in a perfect world where amplifiers are 100% efficient.(which they are not, the heat they produce is wasted energy) |
Jan 12, 2005 - 5:03 PM |
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Enthusiast Joined Jul 7, '04 From Germantown, WI Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
QUOTE(Scarrell @ Dec 31, 2004 - 8:19 PM) why do you need 4 gauge or 2 gauge? you dont need that big of wire....up to 14 gauge is fine for all your audio wiring needs.... Speaker wire isn't as vital as power and ground, because you're dealing with high voltage, low current AC voltage for speakers, much like wall outlets in a house, as opposed to high current DC voltage for power and ground. Generally, this is my rule of thumb: for component speakers (midbass, midrange, or tweeters) 18-16AWG is fine. For subwoofers, 14-12AWG is plenty. Anything you choose to use of a larger gauge will really only be for looks, as there will be no electrical advantage to larger wire. [right][snapback]228642[/snapback][/right] There talking about Power and Ground wire, not speaker wire And Amps X Volts = Watts Therefore 150 X 14.4 = 2160W.....in a perfect world |
Jan 13, 2005 - 12:06 AM |
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Enthusiast Joined Mar 19, '04 From Scottsdale, Az Currently Offline Reputation: 2 (100%) |
your all off the formula, I just can't find the symbol for pi on this keyboard.
This post has been edited by madmods: Jan 13, 2005 - 12:06 AM |
Jan 13, 2005 - 9:59 AM |
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Enthusiast Joined Jul 7, '04 From Germantown, WI Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
Pi is evil....evil!!!!!!!!!!1
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