My stereo install

[Micah]

x3

[CP3]

where did you get your amp power wire and what gauge is it?

[Micah]

Looks like he's running 1/0 gauge Jl wire. You can get 1/0 gauge on ebay for around $3.25 a ft. I found some streetwire and tsunami 0 gauge on ebay. I couldn't believe how expensive it was. I have never ran 0 gauge wire before so it was quite a shock to spend $130 for 40 feet.

[evil0ne]

It is 4 gauge. It is what he had at his house. There is 4 gauge running from the port battery to the additional battery in the storage area that has a 100amp circuit breaker between the two batteries. There is then 2 4 gauge runs to each amp on 80 amp breakers.

[Micah]

Oops, my bad. Looked thicker than 4 gauge.

[talltigeguy]

Oops, my bad. Looked thicker than 4 gauge.

Isn't 4 guage big enough for most high powered amps? My 1000 Watt RMS amp can't fit any wire bigger than that even.

[chpthril]

Isn't 4 guage big enough for most high powered amps? My 1000 Watt RMS amp can't fit any wire bigger than that even.

Assuming you are running it at 2ohm, it will draw about 24 amps. 4ga will be fine for less then 5 feet, let's say , like from a dist block to the amp.

[Micah]

One of the Kicker amps I have, ZX1000.1 uses 1/0 ga wire.

[evil0ne]

Assuming you are running it at 2ohm, it will draw about 24 amps. 4ga will be fine for less then 5 feet, let's say , like from a dist block to the amp.

I'd say it is right around 5 feet. The 4 channel is running 4 ohm bridged and the 6 channel is running F at 4 ohm, R at 2 ohm, Sub at 4 ohm so I'm not really sure what that makes the entire amp running at. I asked my guy and he said the 4 gauge between batteries should be more then adequate and the 5 feet betwen battery and amp should be good too.

I'll get the pics of the LEDs hopefully mid week, the boat is with Matt for the ECM and then I'll get it back to tune all of the amps/eq and wire up the battery charger.

Speaking of battery chargers what is the best way to do it? I have the Xantrex Truecharge 20+. I want to know how to wire it to the batteries with consideration of the EIBD and the additional battery. Do I wire one output of the Xantrex to the starting battery and one to the accessory? By doing that will the third battery get charged off of the accessory? Also, what are you using for a plug (location and model)? I was thinking of buying a flip up bow light and having that be the receptacle somehow, any thoughts?

[Micah]

Evilone,

How did it go cutting the holes out for the 650's? It looks really good. Did you use a rotozip? How much time did it take? I bet they sound just as good as they look!

[Timmy!]

Assuming you are running it at 2ohm, it will draw about 24 amps. 4ga will be fine for less then 5 feet, let's say , like from a dist block to the amp.

There's a formula for that but I can't remember it. I remember it being on my installer certification test.... in 1994!

[chpthril]

There's a formula for that but I can't remember it. I remember it being on my installer certification test.... in 1994!

Ohms Law, Amp draw = sq root of watts/ohms.

Then use a std wire chart to see what size wire will carry that load for the length of wire you need to run

[evil0ne]

Evilone,

How did it go cutting the holes out for the 650's? It looks really good. Did you use a rotozip? How much time did it take? I bet they sound just as good as they look!

An air saw and a dremel; quite the mess. The air cylinder we had couldn't keep up with the tool so we had to use the dremel that made a lot more dust. The sabre bit works just like a rotozip. The only other problem is that it couldn't cut through under the dash so I only got 5 installed.

[Timmy!]

Ohms Law, Amp draw = sq root of watts/ohms.

Then use a std wire chart to see what size wire will carry that load for the length of wire you need to run

There's Ohms law and then there was a formula for the wire size is as well, or maybe it was a chart - I'll have to find my book since it would be useful info for everyone on here.

[chpthril]

There's Ohms law and then there was a formula for the wire size is as well, or maybe it was a chart - I'll have to find my book since it would be useful info for everyone on here.

There probably is a formula for wire size, but I like to use a good old cheat sheet when i can