Amplifier wire gauge chart
How to determine the best size wire for your amp's power and ground
In order to operate correctly, an amplifier needs its power and ground wiring to be large enough to accommodate its demand for electrical current. What wire gauge (thickness) to use for power cabling depends on how much current your system will try to consume, and on how long the wiring run will be.
Understanding the needs of your system can help you know when to choose 4-gauge wire instead of 8-gauge wire. Do a little bit of math and then consult our wire size chart below. Of course, if you're looking for a new car amplifier, we list the recommended amp wiring kit with each amp.
The formulas for calculating current draw
To determine the approximate current draw (in amperes) of your amplifier, you must first calculate the total power of the system. Multiply the number of channels by the number of RMS watts per channel. If you have multiple amps, add up the total RMS power figures to arrive at a grand total.
Generally speaking, there are two kinds of amplifiers — Class D and Class AB — so there are two formulas for calculating current draw. (You can read the detailed explanation below the chart.) You use the formula that applies to your amplifier. If you don't know what Class your amplifier is, use the Class AB calculations for the safest result.
Class D amplifier: total RMS Wattage divided by 0.75 Amp Efficiency divided by 13.8 Volts equals Current Draw in Amperes
Class AB amplifier: total RMS Wattage divided by 0.50 Amp Efficiency divided by 13.8 Volts equals Current Draw in Amperes
The resulting figure is your system's approximate maximum current draw, whichever kind of amplifier you have. Compare this number to the numbers in the "Amperes" column in the chart below. Now figure out the cable length you'll need — that's the distance from your battery to the amplifier's mounting location. Cross-reference these two figures in the chart to determine which gauge of cable you need.
Please note that the smaller the gauge number, the larger the wire. 1/0 ("one-aught") is the common name for a 0-gauge wire; 2/0 ("two-aught") for a 00-gauge wire.
Wire size calculator
Note: This chart is for copper wire only. Copper-clad aluminum (CCA) wire cannot handle the amount of current that a copper wire of the same size can.
A more detailed explanation
Here is an explanation about the formulas we use, in case you want more details. Calculating the amplifier's total power is straightforward, but the other parts can be confusing.
Calculating Current: Joule's Law
Current (Amperes) equals Power (Watts) divided by Voltage (Volts)
But no amplifier is 100% efficient
The above formula, by itself, doesn't take into account the inefficiency inherent to power production. That needs to get factored in.
Current (Amperes) equals Power (Watts) divided by Amp Efficiency (X%) divided by Voltage (Volts)
By factoring in this inefficiency for each class of amplifier, we arrive at the two formulas listed above:
The formula for Class D amps
A typical Class D amplifier is about 75% efficient, which means about three quarters of the power it generates is turned into audio output while one quarter of the power is lost as heat. So if the amplifier is putting out 400 watts, it's actually drawing about 533 watts of power from its source, and the amp's wiring needs to be big enough to handle that draw.
- A Class D amplifier's Current Draw equals its RMS output Wattage divided by 75% Efficiency divided by 13.8 Volts
The formula for Class AB amps
A typical Class AB amplifier is about 50% efficient, which means about half of the power it generates is turned into audio output while the other half of the power is lost as heat. So if the amplifier is putting out 400 watts, it's actually drawing about 800 watts of power from its source, and the amp's wiring needs to be big enough to handle that draw.
- A Class AB amplifier's Current Draw equals its RMS output Wattage divided by 50% Efficiency divided by 13.8 Volts
Automotive voltage is neither 12 volts nor 14.4 volts
And the 13.8? Yes, vehicles have a 12-volt electrical system, but we're assuming that the vehicle is running — which means its alternator will bump up the system voltage to about 13.8 volts. This is a better real-world representation of the vehicle's electrical supply. Dividing by 12 results in a larger number, which could point to a larger wire gauge, but it's often in the same color range in the chart. Manufacturers use 14.4 volts, when they spec their gear, to exaggerate their power ratings.
Resistance increases with wire length
The reason different cable lengths bear different ratings is because the electrical resistance, inherent in all wire, builds up as the cable gets longer, until it forces the voltage to drop below a useable level. At that point, up-sizing the power cable will restore the voltage to its intended level.
Wire size matters for current flow
Finally, according to our tech support guys, the primary performance limitation in most amplifier installations is in the current delivery — either a weak ground or insufficient wire gauge. Installing too small of a wire gauge results in poor performance, potentially shorter service life of connected components (your amplifier and speakers), and a potential safety hazard.
On the other hand, installing too large a wire gauge doesn't really have any downside, and there is the potential for better performance. Obviously, there's no need to buy 2-gauge wiring when 10-gauge will do. That kind of overkill would be a waste of money. But if the chart could lean either way between two sizes, going with the larger wire size would be the smart choice.
What size speaker wire do I need?
Speaker wiring matters too. The signal and power coming out of your amplifier must not be impeded on their way to your speakers and subs. When you replace or run new speaker wiring, we recommend using:
- 18-, 16-, or 14-gauge wires for speakers
- 16-, 14-, or 12-gauge wires for subwoofers
As with the power wire, the longer the run and the more current you're pushing through it, the larger size you should use. For example, if your amp is in the trunk and you're sending 100 watts to your front speakers, 14-gauge speaker wire is a good call. But if the amp is only 50 watts, 16-gauge would be fine.
Let us help you get what you need
Now that you have some idea of how much amp wiring you need, shop our selection of amplifier wiring and accessories. We have amp wiring kits, distribution blocks, and everything else you need. And if you have any questions about putting together a shopping list, contact our advisors via phone, email, or chat — the info is at the top of this page. If you want to learn more about amplifier installation, read our amplifier installation guide.
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Bryan G from sacramento
Posted on 6/24/2019so im looking to just add a powered sub, upgrade the factory speakers and head unit, stock is 2x 4in 2x 6.5in and 2x 6x9in speakers, the new speakers are all 30w rms, 4 ohms, 1, can i run the two 4in off the headunit rated at 16w rms, peak 50w on 4 channels, 2, would i need a amp for the two 6.5in and two 6x9in speakers, based on total of 260w rms plugged in to the equation (2(260)x.75)/13.8 i get 28.3a would 10ga work?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 6/25/2019Bryan, Without knowing precisely what vehicle, what its factory system consists of, and what upgrades you want, we can't help you with system planning. If you're adding a powered sub, you should use whatever size power wire is called for in its owner's manual, or correctly use the formula in this article knowing the RMS wattage of the amp.Jared from Colorado Springs
Posted on 6/3/2019Hi Buck, I am upgrading my sub amp and want a second option on the wiring. Here's my current set up - 4 awg OFC fused at the battery (80 amps) to a fused distribution block in my trunk. One 8 awg ofc power wire runs (40 amp AGU fuse in the distro block) to power a Kicker Cxa400.1 amp for my sub and a second 8 awg ofc power wire (in second output from the distro block, fused at 40 amps) to a Rockford Fosgate 1 farad capacitor. I had it professionally installed and was surprised that they wired the cap to its own fuse. Negative d block is three 8 gauge inputs to one 4 gauge output grounded to the car (one Input unused).Now I am upgrading my amp to a Kicker CXA600.1 (2016 model), which will be ran at 2 ohms. Given the short run from the distro block to the amp, can I use the same 8 awg ofc wire fused at 80 amps? Should I rewire this setup to use just one distro block positive wire output (d block wired to cap, then run the amp directly off the cap) to make the best use of the cap? Or since the cxa600.1 calls for 4 gauge, should I upgrade to all 4 gauge ofc (and if yes, again,should it be distro block to cap to amp)? Lastly, I think my alternator is only rated for 105 amps, am i pushing it with this amp and cap? I have upgraded to an amg battery but I'm wondering if a Big 3 upgrade (with 0 gauge) is going to be necessary. If it matters, I don't plan on blasting the sub amp at max power, the smaller amp I have now is just a little too weak, but not much....thank you!!
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 6/3/2019Jared, I think you can leave the wiring as is for the new amp. The increase in power isn't enough to justify larger cable.Ryan Moone from Bedford
Posted on 5/27/2019I am looking at installing 2 kicker marine amps, 4 channels each in my boat, both the 44KXMA400.4. Is 4g from the battery to the fused distribution block, then split into 8g to each amps sufficient? This will be powering 6 kicker km65 (65rms x 6) boat speakers and 2 Kicker 45KM84L (150rms x 2).
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 5/28/2019Ryan, That sounds good to me. Don't forget the inline fuse near the battery. An 80A or 100A fuse will work best.Dinzel from Columbus
Posted on 5/25/2019I wanna put 2 amps in my car I have the Kicker CS speakers that's 6x9 and our 150 a piece and I wanna run my two front speakers to a amp that's rated 300 watts and I have 2 audiopipe and there rated at 1800 rmsand I have a amp for that's rated 1800 rms and I wanna put it in my Toyota Camry LE 2006 and I have a Sony deck that's supporting front speakers and for a sub I know the formula is 2100/13.8 which is 152.17 so I know my amp fuse should be around 100-200 more likely I wanna put a 200 amp fuse in and should I go with 2 gauge or 0 gauge since it's about 16-19ft?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 5/28/2019Dinzel, You didn't take into account your amplifiers' efficiency. If they're Class AB amps, you divide total wattage by one-half (the amps' efficiency) before dividing by 13.8 volts, getting 304A, which will work with 1/0-gauge wire and a 300A fuse. If they're Class D amps, you divide total wattage by three-quarters (the amps' efficiency) before dividing by 13.8 volts, getting 203A, which will work with 1/0-gauge wire and a 200A fuse.mike from durant
Posted on 5/20/2019at what power level should you upgrade your factory speaker wire or use bigger than the 18ga speed wires?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 5/20/2019Mike, A system powered at 100 watts or more per channel will benefit from using larger gauge speaker wire.Dustin Williams from Pomona
Posted on 5/15/2019I'm running a Orion CB3500.1D Cobalt Series Monoblock Class D 1-Ohm Amplifier wired at 1ohm with two Kicker L7's in a ported enclosure. I'm using a Kicker 4g wiring kit with a 100amp fuse. Do you think I need a 0 gauge wire as the amp has been tested to put our 1400-1500rms at 1ohm load?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 5/16/2019Dustin, I would use 1/0-gauge power and ground wires for that amplifier seeing it has 200-amps worth of fusing.Al germany from riverside ca
Posted on 5/8/2019I have a t1500 1dcp and kicker 250 4 channel amp running off of 4 gauge wire with one 200 watt fuse is that safe to run or should each amp have it own fuse?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 5/8/2019Al, To be safe, besides the fuse near the battery, each amplifier's power lead after the distribution block should also be fused - 200A for the sub amp, 60A for the other.Justice from Phoenix
Posted on 5/4/2019Is your chart based on cca or off wiring because all of my amp wires are off and from what I've been told it supports a significant amount more power than it's cca equivalent. I'm going to be running 3 amps (1 sub) and 2x4 channels) the 4 channels have very different RMS Ratings (300 Watts and 1000 Watts) and I basically want to verify that I'm putting the right speakers to the best amp based on a tual power they're going to see from each amp and obviously the wires can have a huge effect on that. Thanks in advance
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 5/6/2019Justice, This chart is for copper wire, whether oxygen-free or not. Generally, copper-clad aluminum (CCA) wire can only safely carry about 60-70% of what copper wire of the same diameter can.Damon King from Whitehouse Station
Posted on 4/22/2019Would 8 Gauge Rockford Fosgate amp install kit from the battery to the amps on Alpine MRV-F300 and Alpine Alpine MRV-M500 suffice? Looking at running from battery to front seats which is under 12 feet. MRV-F300 will be 50 watts by 4 configuration. I did the math 500 total watts multiplied by 1.25 (Class D 80% efficient) divided by 13.8 and end up with 45 Amps.
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 4/25/2019Damon, That 8=gauge amp kit will work just fine in your amp installation.Scott from Green Bay
Posted on 4/19/2019I'm about to overhaul my Pontiac G6 system, including new main speakers and stereo (pioneer AVH-X4800BS). I already replaced the rear speakers and noticed the wires are tiny. Maybe 18ga, but I'm not sure. I don't plan to add an amp to the mains right now and not sure if I will in the future, so would it be worth it to upgrade the speaker wiring now when just running off the stronger aftermarket stereo?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 4/19/2019Scott, You're right, factory speaker wiring is usually 18-gauge. It'll work fine for your application.-
Ronnie from Seguin
Posted on 4/11/2019I have a volfenhag element-5 2600 watt full mosfet monoblock amp wanting to know true rms of it and if it is 1 ohm stable or can power four svc subs two of them are 400 watt rms the other two are 300 watt rms can i run it parallel and be ok
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 4/13/2019 Ronnie, If you're referring to Volfenhag's ZX5167, then judging by its 60-A of fusing and its AB Class, I'd say it will put out up to about 420 watts RMS. The online ad I saw for the amp says it is stable for one-ohm operation. David Lersch from Las Vegas
Posted on 4/9/2019Lots of good info here,but I just want to double check. I'm installing a 400W RMS (1 ohm) sub amp and 60W RMS 4 channel amp. I got a dual amplifier wiring kit and the main power cable is 4 gauge, then it splits to 8 gauge at the distribution block. Is the 8 gauge enough to power the sub amp efficiently? It's the kicker 46cxa400.1 class d.
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 4/13/2019 David, Sounds good to me. Rock on. Thomas from Barstow
Posted on 4/4/2019Hello I bought a JL AUDIO XD600/1 amp for my JL audio 10in W6 sub and a JL Audio XD400/4 for my front and rear speakers. When I bought the amps I picked up an AMP wiring kit for both amp. But now looking at the wiring chart I am not sure if the wiring kit has the right size power cables for my car. The car is a 2015 accord 4 door. I was going to run the 4 gauge power wire from the battery to the trunk then off of the TSPEC power/ fuse block run 4 gauge to the amps. The distance from the fuse block to the amps would be less than 2 feet. But I am worried about the main run from the battery to the truck. Would I need 2 gauge power wire for that and if so does Crutchfield sell it since I bought my multi amp wire kit from them when I purchased my amplifiers?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 4/5/2019 Thomas, Your question has raised an important issue with the formula used in this article which will lead to a revision in the future. The stated formula is for Class AB amplifiers, which are generally 50% efficient. Your amps are Class D, which are typically 80% efficient. So, in that case, you've got a 75 x 4 amp plus a 600 watter which totals 900W. Instead of 2, you'd multiply that by 1.25, equaling 1125W. Dividing that by 13.8V yields a total draw of 81.5A. In other words, a 4-gauge main power cable will work fine for your amps. Mike C. from Washington, DC
Posted on 3/27/2019This is THE best comments section I have ever seen! I have already posed these questions to the online Crutchfield advisor, who were an EXCELLENT help but I just want to be double sure as I do not want to see my friend's bike burst into flames! I am RE-installing 2 amps (a 600W Kenwood KAC-M3004 and a 400W Clarion XC2410) onto a friend's Victory Cross Country motorcycle; the last install was a firetrap waiting to happen. The Kenwood KAC-M3004 has an 8AWG power wire going to the battery about 60" away. The amp comes with a 30A fuse. Should the inline power fuse also be 30A or higher (currently there is a 60A inline fuse connected)? The same for the Clarion XC2410. It will be mounted about 36" from the battery. It has an external 40A fuse. Should the inline power fuse also be 40A or higher? Also, for the Clarion, the power and ground wires has a pigtail connection which uses 12AWG wires. Should/can the wires stay 12AWG? The previous installer spliced on 8AWG power wire to the 12AWG wire and ran this (UNFUSED!!!) to the battery. I do not trust ANYTHING that he did. Thanks!!!
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 3/27/2019 Mike, Both of those amps call for 10-gauge power and ground wires in a normal car install. But for a motorcycle, the runs are much shorter so the wires can be smaller. (It's alright to splice larger wire onto a power lead, as long as the connection is tight and secure.) The inline fuse by the battery is there to protect the wire and the vehicle in the event of a short circuit, and its value depends on the size of the wire. For 10-gauge power wires I recommend using 30A fuses. Ryan Quigley from Atlanta
Posted on 3/23/2019I have a JL 12W7 sub (3ohm) with a JL JX1000/1D amp (14.4v - 750W RMS or 12.5v - 700W RMS) and some 4 ohm speakers with a JL JX360/4 amp (14.4v - 70w rms x 4 or 12.5v - 55w rms x 4) I was goin to use 0 guage to run from battery to non fused distro then a 4 guage to the 4 channel and a 0 guage to the mono, I want to know if that is ok to do and if not what should I run? Also what size amp fuses I need and where to place each? And can I use 16 guage wire for speakers as well as sub? Please help me out, thank you.
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 3/23/2019 Ryan, Run 1/0-gauge wire, with a 150A fuse near the battery, from the battery to a distribution block. You can't run 1/0-gauge wire to that sub amp because its power terminal only accepts wire 4-gauge and smaller. Use 4-gauge for both amps. For safety's sake, you need to install additional fuses, 80A for the JX1000/1 and 50A for the JX360/4, inline on each amp's power wire. It'll be easiest with a fused distribution block. Roger from Grand forks
Posted on 3/15/2019I have 2 12 kicker comp running 300 rms what wire should it take? Currently has a 8
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 3/15/2019 Roger, For subwoofers, we recommend using 16-, 14-, or 12-gauge speaker wire. If you're asking about power wire, the size of the amp determines that, not the subs. Hank from Harrison ARK
Posted on 3/13/2019I have a one channel 1500watt boss amp a 10inch sub what size of power cable remote cable and ground cable
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 3/13/2019 Hank, Boss recommends using 4- or 8-gauge power and ground wires. Remote turn-on leads are usually 18-gauge. Why don't you pick up an amplifier wiring kit and get everything you need for your amp installation, including a fuse and holder, in one package. Sam from Binghamton
Posted on 3/1/2019Hey Buck I just bought a diamond audio de1200.1 d amp to power 2 12 powerbass subs what gauge wire should I use?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 3/1/2019 Sam, The owner's manual for that amp recommends using 4-gauge power and ground wires. Caelin Lee Santee-Buenger from Eau Claire
Posted on 2/16/2019I will be buying the Rockford fosgate p3d4-12 and running it at about 500-600 Watts RMS in a sealed box. What gauge wire should I buy?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 2/18/2019 Caelin, We recommend using 16-, 14-, or 12-gauge wires for subwoofers. Dan
Posted on 2/8/2019Any particular reason Crutchfield recommends 12 gauge speaker wire for JL Audio subwoofers?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 2/9/2019 Dan, We recommend using 16-, 14-, or 12-gauge wires for subwoofers to ensure good current flow for efficient power production without loss due to high resistance in the wire. Jason Heinrichs from Caldwell
Posted on 2/7/2019I'm running a RF 75x4 and a 10 yr old RF prime 500.1 @ 1ohm on 2 RF D4 P2's. I don't know what power rating is on the sub amp at 1ohm. How do I find this info, and what gauge power/ground cable should I be running? Currently it's 4g run front to back to distro block and 8g short cables to amps.
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 2/9/2019 Jason, If you're referring to a Rockford Fosgate Prime R500-1 amplifier, it won't work well with a 1-ohm load, and will probably go into protect mode before overheating. The 4-gauge power lead will work fine with your setup. Scott best from Newburgh
Posted on 1/28/2019I have alpine 6 1/2 components from and rear, ss65c. I was thinking about the alpine mrv f300. Will that be ok size wise? I'm going to match up with a jvc double din and possibly a kicker 8 inch powered sub for a little base. Car is small it's a Suzuki sx4.
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 1/29/2019 Scott, Sounds like a good plan to me. Steve from Peoria
Posted on 1/24/2019With all things equal except amplifiers, what's better for 4 door speakers and a single sub, a single 5 channel amp or a 4 channel + a 1 channel? I'm comparing the Kenwood X801 or a pair of Alpine MRVs 500 single and the 300 4 channel. This is for a front set of 6.5" Focal ISS components, rear 6.5" Focal ISC 2-ways and a single RF P3D4-10 wired at 2 ohms.
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 1/25/2019 Steve, Either of the amp configurations you mention would make an excellent system. Personally, I'd go with the 5-channel amp because there'd be less wiring involved and less space taken up. Steven from SAN BENITO
Posted on 1/10/2019I just recently purchase an Alpine Mrv-m500 to power my rockford fosgate P2D4 8" Punch P2 500 Watt 4 Ohm DVC. It does sound good but at high volumes the subwoofer goes out and amp stays on. I do have a factory head unit on it. What could cause this?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 1/10/2019 Steven, It sounds to me that your amp is going into protect mode, protecting itself from the high input you're pushing at it. Lowering the amp gain will probably fix this. If that's not loud for enough you, consider getting a higher-powered amp and sub. Bryan from Bentonville
Posted on 12/22/2018I currently have a 1500 watt vm1500.1 mono amp. I have 2 alpine 12inch sws12d4's. It is currently wired at 4 ohms and I'm trying to wire it at 1 ohm. I have 14 gauge wire coming from the amp. Is it bad if I mix gauge wire as I'm currently out of 14 gauge?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 12/31/2018 Brian, For subwoofers, we recommend using 12- to 16-gauge speaker wires, so as long as you use those sizes, you can mix speaker wire of different sizes together in your wiring. Rob from San Jose
Posted on 12/15/2018Hi Buck, impressed with all the knowledge sharing here! Here's a good one for you: Alpine PDX-F6 (150 x 4 RMS = 600W) powering: - Rear hatch: 2 x Hertz 165 XL (100-300W RMS each) - Rear doors: 2 x Alpine Type R 6.5" (100-300W RMS) (Amp (600W) v Speakers (400-1200W)) Alpine PDX-F6 (150x4 RMS) powering: - Rear hatch: 2 x Hertz 165 XL (100-300W RMS each) (Amp (600W) v Speakers (200-600W)) Alpine PDX-F6 (1x600 RMS) powering: - JL Audiob12W6v3-D4 (400-900 RMS) (Amp (600W) v Speakers (400-900W)) Total: 1800W RMS Other niceties: Head unit: Pioneer AVIC8200-NEX Capacitor: 1.5 farads Northstar 31M AMG battery ARB Element fridge ARB Twin Compressor Radar detector Dashcam QUESTIONS: 1) I'd like to the "Big 3" upgrade. Should I use 4/0 gauge? 2) What gauge wires from the battery to a 3-way power distribution block? (I'm thinking 4/0 gauge) 3) What size inline fuse from the battery to the 3-way power distribution block? 400? 4) What gauge wires from the power distribution block to each of the amps? 4 gauge? 5) What gauge speaker wires? Thinking 12 or 14 gauge?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 12/15/2018 Rob, Big Three upgrades are usually done using 1/0- or 4-gauge wire. If I understand correctly, you have three amps with a total power rating of 1800 watts RMS. A 1/0-gauge power wire from battery to distribution block will work. Don't forget the fuse near the battery - a 250 to 300-Amp fuse will make it all safe. Then you can run 4-gauge to each amp from the distribution block. And each amp gets a 4-gauge ground. 14- or 16-gauge wire works well for speakers, but if you can fit it in, 12-gauge speaker wire works too. Don from Parma
Posted on 12/11/2018I'm asking just to be on the safe side. I have a pioneer class D, 1 channel amp, 800 watts rms at 1 0hm, I have one 12, 2 ohm dvc wired in parallel so it's 1 ohm. I did the math mentioned above, my result at about 16 feet was 115, so I'm good with a 4 gauge wire, right? Thanks in advance!
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 12/12/2018 Don, If you're referring to a Pioneer GM-D8601, then yes, it does call for 4-gauge power and ground wires. Anthony whitsey from Vallejo ca
Posted on 11/29/2018Hey buck , I'm running a 2400 watt amplifier for my two 1000 watt subs.... what's the correct amplifier wiring kit I need to run it ?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 12/3/2018 Anthony, That depends on precisely what amp you have. A Class AB amp capable of that amount of RMS output probably needs 2/0-gauge power and ground leads. A Class D amp could probably get away with 1/0. If you're quoting peak ratings, forget all that, and go with what the manufacturer recommends. Vincent from East Northport
Posted on 10/11/2018I have 2 amps 4k for subs 800 for mids/highs so as far as I understand now my single run 18feet of 1/0 is not delivering enough power to run the amp at 4000 W .?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 10/12/2018 Vincent, If your amplifiers can put out a total of 4,800 watts RMS of power, then one 1/0-gauge power and ground wires will not be enough to support them. Can't say anything about it if those ratings you mentioned are actually peak specs. Joe
Posted on 10/8/20181800 watt amp on 0 gauge wire... what size fuse do I need on 0 gauge
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 10/9/2018 Joe, A fuse rated for 200A to 300A will safely protect your 1/0-gauge power wire. Joshua Roy C Sanchez from Manila, Philippines
Posted on 9/21/2018Sir, I just want to inquire from you. Is JL Audio 10W3V3-4 subwoofer a good match for Alpine PDX-V9 Amplifier? thanks..
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 9/21/2018 Joshua, That 500 watts RMS rated sub will work great with that amp's 500 watts RMS subwoofer output. Jose from Monterey
Posted on 9/12/2018Speakers keep blowing up... 4gauge wiring but I bought the amp kit with 100Amp fuse Installed an alpine mdr M1000 500@4ohm 1000@2ohm Had a 4 ohm dual voice coil 12 sub + to + and - to - =(2ohm?) Also tapped in to the rear sub on my 207 Lexus is250 for the channel going to amp oh, and along with the rca converter Lexus sub->converter->amp It's the amp to strong to handle speakers? Sub was a Audiobahn 12'' 450watt Also had another sub GS Audio 1000 watt max 12'' sub And a JBL 12'' 1000 watt max sub Which all blew up after a couple minutes of music. Started smelling burnt. Manual did say use an 80amp fuse, read your post saying it's ok to go a bit over (remember amp kit I bought came with 100amp fuse). Should I switch to 80amp? How do I wire a 4ohm dvc to 4ohm?,..should I just use one VC (4ohm) so that I don't draw 2ohm from amp? Or just get a 4ohm SVC? Don't knw what's happening? Guess I'll check the RCA converter to make sure wiring is ok? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!!!
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 9/13/2018 Jose, Sending 1000 watts RMS to a subwoofer rated for half that amount will blow the sub, as you've experienced. If you want to use that amplifier, get a subwoofer rated for 750 to 1500 watts RMS and can get wired as a 2-ohm load. Use RMS ratings, never use peak ratings. Jamie from Dirty Myrtle
Posted on 7/29/2018Hi. I'm hooking up an RF 400-4d to 2 sets of RF T1675 components. I'm planning on using 18ga. 9 (8+remote) conductor wire to get back to the front speakers. The amp came in at 601w @ 2 ohms. I figure it's roughly 400w @ 4 ohms. Is 18ga. enough for 100wpc or should I double and run the 9 conductor as if it were a 5 conductor (4+remote)? I'm planning on using crossovers closer to speakers rather than the amp but in the case that I need to keep crossovers in the back, will the wire be suitable for any and all conceivable configurations of this equipment? Chrysler 300...
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 7/31/2018 Jamie, For an amplifier, like yours, that will put out up to 75 watts RMS per channel, 18-gauge speaker wire will work just fine. David from Delray
Posted on 7/10/2018Currently have Pioneer GM-D8601 800W powering a Rockford Fosgate Punch P3D2-12 12" Dual 2-ohm and running 4 gauge from battery to the amp. Looking to BUY a Pioneer GM-D8604 to power my already installed Kicker 40CS674 6-3/4" 2-way Speakers (front doors - but want to replace with some components soon) and Polk Audio DXi691 6" x 9" 3-way Speakers (rear deck). Now my questions are: I get back a amperes rate of 174 (rounded up) and drive a Chevy Impala. Would the already ran 4 gauge cover my power draw or jumping to 2 gauge for sure? 2nd Question: I would then take the already ran 4 gauge and use a T-Spec DB-1424 to handle the ground distro and power distro (as its not a fused disto)?? 3rd: If above I have wrong - options? 4th: Can 4 gauge be used for a 2 battery set up or going to a HO Alt seem more feasible?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 7/11/2018 David, This wire chart uses a formula that's conservative and results in safe applications for every kind of amplifier. Your amplifiers use Class D technology which is more efficient and would draw more like 109-A at full-tilt. That means you can use 4-gauge wire throughout your installation. Gabriel from Abingdon
Posted on 6/5/2018Hi, english is not my first language so I'm strugling a little bit to figure which wiring kit I should look for, could you give me a hand? I've got a "Edge twin Subwoofer" it is two 12" speakers with 900w each, it has and built in amp which is an "ED7300". The power is 600w RMS and the peak is 1800w. Thank you in advance Buck. Gabriel.
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield on 6/5/2018 Gabriel, That powered subwoofer will need a 4-gauge (AWG) power and ground wiring kit. Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 5/24/2018Jose, I can only assume those huge power specs you quote are peak wattage ratings and useless for planning out a system. Without knowing precisely what amps you're referring to, we can't help you with advice. If you want a question answered about a system, you must identify the gear by brand names and model numbers so we can get the right information to you.
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 5/23/2018Nate, Check all the connections. Wires that aren't fastened securely often heat up due to the intermittent contacts and sparks. If you bought your gear from Crutchfield, you could call Tech Support for free help troubleshooting your system. Their toll-free number is on your invoice. If you purchased your equipment elsewhere, you can still get expert Crutchfield Tech Support - 90 days-worth for only $30. Click on this link for details.
Jose from LAWRENCE
Posted on 5/22/2018Hi my is Jose I want to know what gauge should I use for my system cause I keep blowing my power line fuse I have a 2500 watt amp for my subs and a 1000 watt for my mids
Nate from Grand Rapids
Posted on 5/17/2018Alright so i have 2 alpine swr-1242d subs that are hooked up at 1 ohm in a Belva BBX212BK box and the amp i have is Rockford Fosgate R1200-1D. Im running 0 gauge ground and power wire with a 150 watt fuse to my amp and i think 12 or 16 gauge speaker from my amp to my subs but for some reason only my negative speaker wire that goes from my amp to subs keeps burning and i dont know why. Should i just get bigger speaker wires or is there something more that im missing?
Christopher Lee Hane from St paul
Posted on 4/19/2018Why is it that all your recommendations exceed what is considered safe in 310.15 b 16. I don't know much about sizing wiring for adio and am interested in reading more about it. Could you link me some good information. If not no worries thanks. I'm probably asking a lot
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 4/13/2018Cliff, The wire recommendations on our product pages come from each amplifier manufacturer's recommendations. They base their recommendations using worst-case scenarios - long wire runs. You are correct that you can use smaller wires for shorter runs.
Cliff from San Diego
Posted on 4/12/2018Are the recommendations on the amp pages based off the longest length wire runs in the chart? For instance, the amps I am looking at say 4 gauge recommended, but I'm doing the math here and finding 8 gauge to work. For instance, a 4x100 rms amp gets me just under 60 amperes, which at a ten foot or under power wire length should be okay per the chart. Am I doing the math right?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 4/9/2018Rich, Although we usually recommend using thicker wire with a 100 watts per channel amp, you shouldn't have any issues using 18-gauge speaker wiring.
Rich from Plymouth
Posted on 4/8/2018I have four speakers all Kickers that have 60 watts rms. I'm putting in a Pioneer amp that will put out 100 watts to each one. Question is will 18 gauge speaker wire be ok for this setup? I don't think I'll be cranking it up to high so I'm hoping I can get by with it. Thanks!
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 3/9/2018Sheri, It sounds like your wiring kit is too small for that amp. If it's a Kicker KXA2400.1, then it requires 1/0 gauge power and ground wires and a 200-Amp fuse.
Sheri from Duluth
Posted on 3/9/2018Im having an issue with my fuse blowing in the wiring kit for the positive cable... i have 1600W wiring kit a 2400w kicker and 2 2000w Orion comps subs. What do i need to wire these correctly
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 3/5/2018Logan, Without knowing what size wire you presently have, I have no way of knowing if it needs upgrading or not. I do know that a 600 watts RMS amplifier should use 4-gauge power and ground wires.
logan from spring hill Kansas
Posted on 3/5/2018I have a 300-watt amp now and want to get a 600-watt amp. will I need a new power and ground wire for the 600-watt amp to work
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 2/14/2018John, According to my figures and the stats I can find, those three amplifiers will together try to pull as much as 207A from the electrical system, and 2-gauge wire may be a bit too small for that, unless it's a short run. The rest of your plan sounds fine.
John from Portland
Posted on 2/14/2018Buck, I'm trying to verify my installation configuration. I will have three amps. KAC-X542 rated at 4 x 60 Watts RMS @ 4 ohms & 14.4 volts. 4 speakers are rated at 60 Watts @ 4 ohm KAC-522 rated at 2 x 125 Watts RMS @ 4 ohms & 14.4 volts. 2 speakers are rated at 100 watts @ 4 ohms R750-1D rated at 1 x 750 Watts RMS @ 1 ohm & 14.4 volts. 1 sub (p3d2-12) rated at 600 watts DVC @ 2 ohms I have a 2 guage wire from the battery with a 200 amp breaker. I plan to have a distribution block with 60 amp fuses going to each amp. I plan to use 8 gauge wire from the block to the amp. Have I sized everything appropriately? Thanks!
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 1/27/2018Philip, Using the formula in the article, we figure your 40 watts RMS x 4 amplifier will draw 23.2A. Looking at the chart, we see that at 17-feet, you'd need to change an 8-gauge power wire to a 6- or 4-gauge wire at 50A. Subtracting your amp's draw leaves you with 26.8A in reserve. Now we reverse the article's formula to translate that 26.8A to 185 watts RMS. Sounds like you have room to add a bunch of bass.
Philip seitz from Oklahoma city
Posted on 1/26/2018Hey, so I've been researching my wire, and it turns out it is oxygen free copper(OFC) so would you be able to shoot over the calculations again if I was running 4x40 watt RMS in a 8 gauge OFC at 17ft To see how big of a powered sub I could add to this power wire
Philip seitz from Oklahoma city
Posted on 1/22/2018Thank you
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 1/22/2018Philip, This chart is relevant for copper wire, not aluminum wire - we'll have to point that out. Copper-clad aluminum (CCA) wire has about 1.5 times the resistance as copper, and therefore can carry only about 65% of the current as a same size copper wire. To use the chart, you'd figure it for a current draw 150% larger than usual. So, according to my calculations, you can add an amp of up to about 70 watts RMS in power without needing to upgrade the power wire.
Philip seitz from Oklahoma city
Posted on 1/20/2018Hello, i was wanting to make sure my math was correct, I have an old system I installed , a Rockford fosgate 4-channel rated at 40-watts RMS at 4ohms and the power is a 17ft 8 gauge in (what I believe to be) aluminum wire... I am running on this amp 2x50 watt RMS kicker door speakers, and 2x 50 watt RMS tactile bass transducers.. My question is: is If was to add a powered subwoofer to my system what would be the RMS I would need to keep it at to safely keep the 8 gauge as my power wire and just put a distribution block on it? These are the potential powered subs I am looking at that (according to may math) will work with 8 gauge and my other amp.. Basspro JBL SW (125 RMS) Pioneer TS WX120A (50 Watts rms) Kenwood KSC SW11 (75 RMS) If I could go bigger and still "play it safe" Then I will definitely like to do more watts
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 1/16/2018Mark, You can leave your 4-gauge main power, from battery to distribution block, as is, when you upgrade the amp as planned. You are correct that the short run from that amp to the distribution block should be upgraded to 4-gauge wire.
Mark from Rio Rancho
Posted on 1/15/2018I am currently running two amps. I have I Rockford p300x2 running my components up front and an Alpine mrp m350 running my subs. I currently run a 4 gauge cable about 17 ft. to a distribution block and then run 8 gauge power wires to each amp. I'm thinking about getting a new amp for my subs, the JL Audio JX500/1, but it shows to need a dedicated 4gauge power wire. Can I run a 4 gauge wire from the distribution block to the amp without changing any of the other cables or do I need to now run a 2 gauge from the battery to the distribution block?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 12/26/2017Maciazka, In order to ensure that your amplifier can receive all the power necessary for top performance, use the amp's highest RMS rating to figure what size power and ground wire to use. That JL Audio amplifier you mention calls for 4-gauge power and ground cables whether you consult the owner's manual or this wire gauge chart.
Maciazka from EYOTA
Posted on 12/20/2017Sorry, I didn't read through all of the comments. But I'm a little confused on the total RMS thing. I know what RMS is vs peak and blah blah blah. My confusion is in understanding the ohm you should look at for this RMS rating. For instance a JL JX500 is rated 300w @ 4ohms but 500 @ 2ohms. Am I looking at the highest it can do no matter what the ohm rating is? For instance if it's a 1ohm stable amp, then that is the wattage I want to use? Sorry for the long-winded question. I guess for a monoblock amp, the question should be as follows: Do I want to use the highest RMS rating that I find (determined by whether the amp is 4ohm stable, 2ohm stable, or 1ohm stable)? Thanks.
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 12/5/2017Rob, You should never use peak power ratings when you plan out a system. That amplifier actually puts out 150 watts RMS x 2 at 4 ohms, 225 watts RMS x 2 at 2 ohms, and 450 watts RMS x 1 bridged at 4 ohms. Normally, the amp requires 4-gauge power and ground wiring, but for your short runs 8-gauge or 10-gauge will work as well.
Rob from Indianapolis, IN
Posted on 12/5/2017I have a Pioneer GM-A5602 amplifier. This things has a max power of 900 watts at 4 ohms bridged, 300 watts at 4 ohms and 450 watts at 2 ohms. I am running 4 ohm subs. It is a 2 channel amp. My battery is in my trunk, so I only need to run the cable like 4 feet. So I should go with 4 gauge cable? Thanks for your help.
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 12/4/2017Austin, For your high-power application I recommend using 14-, 12-, or even 10-gauge wire if it fits.
Austin
Posted on 12/3/2017i plan on running a 2000w rms sundown audio amp to power 2 sa-12 subwoofers, with each sub getting 1000w each what gauge speaker wire should i use for this set up? Thanks
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 10/9/2017Radha, Using the formula in the article, (65 watts x 2 channels) + 190watts = 320 watts x 2 (amp inefficiency) = 620 watts/13.8 volts = 46.4 amperes. Looking at the chart, a 10' - 13' run will need 8-gauge wiring.
Radha from Sydney
Posted on 10/6/2017Hi there, I have a Hertz HCP4 amp and I am planning to run to run 3 Ch: 65 W x 2 (4 O) front speakers + 190 W x 1 (4 O) for subwoofer at approx 10 to 13 ft of cabling for my Toyota Landcruiser 200 series. What AWG would i need for this setup. Thanking you from Australia
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 8/5/2017Ari, That amp should work for those subs just fine, wired like this diagram. You won't know whether or not you'll need a second battery until after the sub amp installation you experience light dimming during big bass hits.
Ari from SUNDERLAND
Posted on 8/4/2017Okay so Im planning on getting a "Pair of SA-12 Sundown Audio 12" 750W Dual 4-Ohm SA Series" and I'm wondering if a "SUNDOWN AUDIO SAE-1500D 1500W RMS MONOBLOCK CLASS D" Amplifier will work with this set up. *Further, would I need to get an extra battery to power this set up?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 7/26/2017Joshua, Nothing is bridged in your system. Adjacent channels of a multi-channel amplifier can get bridged together, but that isn't applicable for your 1-channel amp. Your two 12" subwoofers are wired together to present a total impedance of 4 ohms with a total power rating of 600 watts RMS. The ratings of your subwoofers have no bearing at all on what size power and ground wire for your amplifier to use. An amplifier's expected output power determines what size wire to use. 4-gauge will work fine for that amp.
joshua from Danville
Posted on 7/26/2017Okay. I searched high and low for an equation that made sense and I think with your formula I've figured it out. I have a Soundstream Rubicon Nano 3000 watt D rated single channel. It's RMS reading for the application in which I'd like to use it is listed as 600w RMS x1 channel at 4 ohms which matches exactly the reading on my subwoofer setup. The subs are Dual Electronics Illuminite (2) 12" and are listed as 600w RMS x1 channel at 4 ohms. According to your formula I take the 600 watts of RMS and because it's a single channel I simply double that number. After doubling the 600 watts of RMS power and getting 1200w RMS I then divide that by 13.8 to achieve my total of 86.95 amperes. Assuming I've used the correct RMS numbers, my amp has several ratings but this matched my subs numbers, I'd be safe using 4 gauge power and grounding wires. Straight line from my battery to the sub enclosure in the trunk is about 9 feet but I've yet to run it through a firewall and under the carpet so I'll be using closer to 13-15 feet. My amp also had an RMS output of 1200w x 1channel at 4ohms but states bridged. Am I correct in assuming that the formula I used in the top is correct because it matches the power of my subs or is it considered bridged because there are two subs in the enclosure?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 7/21/2017Raimondas, You should never even consider using peak ratings when designing a system - use RMS ratings only. That amplifier can put out 1200 watts RMS into a 1-ohm load. It's owner's manual calls for 4-gauge power and ground wiring, but 2-gauge will work safely if it fits. For your application I'd recommend using a 125-amp inline fuse on the main power wire. As for a capacitor, you don't need one unless your headlights dim a little on loud bass beats. If, after putting your system to work, you do suffer that problem, see Headlights Dim When the Music Plays for possible solutions, which include installing a cap.
Raimondas from Rotherham
Posted on 7/20/2017Hey, I have alpine SWR 12d2 3000w peak, thats 1000rms with pioneer GM -D9601 amp is 2400w. Bought 2 gauge wires for amp. They will be ok? Now not sure about power capacitor wich one I have to buy, 3 farad will be enought? And not sure about amp power fuse how big need? I Will be verry thankful if someon help me. Thank you
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 6/25/2017Lucas, Those two amps will require a 1/0-gauge dual amp wiring kit like Kicker's PKD1. After you get your amps up and running is the time to determine if the electrical system needs upgrading or not.
Lucas from Lynnwood
Posted on 6/24/2017Ok so i have 2x hi fonics titan 1000.1 amps (hi fonics txi 1008d) which being class D and hi fonics i assume the 1,000 watt rating is fairly accurate. These two 1,000 watt amps will be powering 2 12" first gen kicker solo baric L7's in a ported kicker made box, and just paired with the factory sound system. These will be going in a 07 acura TL type s. With that set up im wondering if ill need a power cap (would rather not), or upgraded battery/alternator, etc. If i can get away with out anything other then good gauge wire. I would rather save my money, but not sure what would be necessary for this set up.
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 6/23/2017Davey, That amplifier needs 4-gauge power and ground wires and a 100-amp fuse on the positive wire near the battery.
Davey Breedlove from Frederick
Posted on 6/23/2017I have a Rockford Fosgate T500/1bd amp and will be running it in parallel to power 2 JL subs. Would I need a 4 or 8 gauge wire kit?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 6/19/2017Kevin, Those two amplifiers will be fine sharing a single 4-gauge power wire. A great all-in-one solution in your case would be to get a dual amp wiring kit, like Crutchfield's CKD4. This wiring kit has everything you need: inline fuse for the main power cable, fused distribution block for the two amps, and even a ground block so you can ground your two amps to the same spot.
Kevin from Thornton,co
Posted on 6/18/2017Dual amp set up. I have a Kicker CX300.1 and KX400.4. If it maters CX300.1 with 2subs Kicker DC12, KX400.4 with 2 KSS650 and 2KSC650. What size amp fuse do I want to use? What size power and ground wire should I use? Distribution blocks on negative and positive or just positive or non? If distribution block what wire size before and after blocks. Do I need a capacitor?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 6/6/2017Will, The fact that your amplifier is blowing 300-amp fuses should tell you that something is wrong. Perhaps the amplifier is not stable at 0.5 ohms - I see no evidence that it is - and tries to pull more current than the fuses can bear. There's no reason to fuse a ground wire if its corresponding positive wire is fused.
will from phoenix
Posted on 6/5/2017hi there buck, its will with the scv7500. i currently have 300 amp fuses in it that keep blowing (even though connections are good). my math was saying around 225 amp fuses as well but id blow them almost instantly upon any clipping indication. im wired at 0.5 ohm load currently and the amp handles fine at that ohm load. so do you suggest 225 amp fuses on 6 runs? or 3 runs?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 6/5/2017Will, That amplifier uses three sets of power and ground cables. Each of the positive power leads should be fused with a 225-amp fuse to protect the wires and your car from catching on fire in the case of a short circuit, and support that huge output.
will from phoenix
Posted on 6/4/2017hi there buck, im running a scv 7500 (clamping 9.5k rms at 13.8v) with 6 1/0 inputs (3 of each), and i was curious as to if i should be using 370 amp fuses or run duel inputs into each one being a total of 12 inputs (6 each) and have them run 300 amp fuses each. im not exactly sure how to go about that but if you could help please :) thanks so much!
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 5/16/2017Matt, If the wattage you quote is watts RMS, then 8-gauge power and ground wires will work in your application. 125 watts RMS is a bit much for thin factory wiring. We recommend installing new 18-, 16-, or 14-gauge speaker wires.
Matt from St. Peter's
Posted on 5/16/2017Mr. Pomerantz, I just ordered speakers that are 100w continuous rms/200w peak and will be running an amp at 4ohm 125w per channel (4 chanels). If my battery is about 4 foot away from the amp, will 8 gauge be efficient? Also will I need to replace the factory speaker wire for these more powerful speakers or will I be able to re-use them and just purchase an amp wire kit to install my new amp? I bought all the equipment, just need to figure out all the wiring I need to buy. Thanks!
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 4/4/2017Jacub, That amplifier's Owner's Manual calls for 8-gauge power and ground wiring. The number of subs the amp is powering is irrelevant to its maximum potential current draw.
Jacub from Missouri
Posted on 4/4/2017So if it's a monoblock power acoustik RZ1-2300D amp I'm unsure the size wire I have run it's rated at 1600w but I also bought a different wire gauge that's 4g but it's 2800w but it's smaller than the wire I have now would you recommend using the thicker wire and saving the 4g for future use I'm pushing 1400w at 2-ohms ATM to one speaker but I'm about to add another speaker so would you reccomend recalculating my amperes even though it's a 1-channel amp or keep it the same calculations since I'm gonna be running 2 speakers at 4-ohms. The amp runs 900w rms at 4-ohms not sure if I should double that showing there is 2 speakers would they be pulling 900w each or together?
doug from phoenix AZ
Posted on 3/28/2017Mr. Pomerantz, your articles are pure gold. That is all I wanted to say. Thank you for such clear and excellent writing.
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 3/26/2017Shawn, It would depend on whether those watts are RMS or peak. If you really do have an amp that can put out 2500 watts RMS, 14- or 12-gauge speaker wire will work just fine.
Shawn from Providence
Posted on 3/25/2017What gauge speaker wire would you run from a 2500 watt amp?
Justin from Irvine, CA
Posted on 3/16/2017THIS is a proper write up for wiring car audio. I did my homework in high school so I wouldn't catch someones car on fire. But this was an amazing refresher! Thanks Buck!!
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 3/9/2017Steve, For that short of a run, an 8-gauge kit will work just fine.
Steve from Joliet
Posted on 3/8/2017Can I use a 8 gauge wiring kit for for the kicker zx550.3? Will be running Rockford fosgate prime 5.25 in doors, one JBL GT5-15 in trunk. Run from battery to amp less than 4 feet away, battery is under back seat of a 2000 Buick lesabre.
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 3/1/2017Luis, Your math is correct. If the specs are correct, I don't think there's a single alternator in existence that can handle that much current, so running multiple alternators plus multiple batteries sounds like your solution. And running multiple power wires for your amps as well. The reason the Wire Gauge Chart doesn't show more is that systems larger than 300 amperes are rare and usually involve using multiple power wires, batteries, and high-output alternators. We try to make our charts and articles work for the majority of our customers.
Luis Guzman from New Britain
Posted on 2/27/2017Quick question just to male sure my math is correct. I'm planning on running 2 rockford fosgate power 1000a2 @2ohms bridged (1100rms×1 per), Rockford Fosgate power 800a2 @2ohms stereo (400rms×2) & another rockford fosgate power 800a2 @4ohms stereo (200×2rms) in an excursion (20ft long bumper to bumper). Using your equation 1100+1100+800+400=3400×2=6800÷13.8=492.75 1st; is this correct? 2nd; there's nothing higher than 300 so?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 2/22/2017Kelcey, If you expect a current draw of 289 amperes, you'll need to use 1/0-gauge wire everywhere in the power circuit, not just in one section.
Kelcey from Fort Leonard Wood
Posted on 2/21/2017By my calculations I need 1/0 gauge wire because my number was 289. Could I run 4 gauge from my alternator to my second battery then 0 to my capacitor and amp from the battery ?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 2/16/2017Zach, Crutchfield recommends using 16-, 14-, or 12-gauge wires for subwoofers.
Zach from Ocean springs
Posted on 2/16/2017I am running two 12's rms 700 watts each and 1200 peak. I am running off a mono block amp into one input inside my box then it runs from one speaker to the next. What gauge speaker wire should I use for this setup?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 2/15/2017Katlego, I suspect those huge power ratings are exaggerations, otherwise I know of no wire size that can support such massive current draw. I also don't know what car stereo equipment or even what model vehicles are available in your country. An online search ought to bring up at least one car stereo dealership somewhere near you. Sorry I can't help.
katlego from sasolburg
Posted on 2/15/2017Good day I just bought a 7000w Targa sub and 10000w amp,so need to make a good sound what cables,fuses and capacitors should I buy in order to get the best sound and good power so my sound can be clear and good
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 1/27/2017Cody, That amp and sub should work together just fine - just be sure to set the amp gain so no distortion ever plays. If the amplifier's power consumption is beyond the capacity of your automotive electrical system, you may require an electrical upgrade that could include a high-output alternator, a second battery, or both. I'm not sure what it's tuned to, but a Memphis Audio 15-PE1X15V2 ported enclosure might work for you and your sub.
cody from Plymouth
Posted on 1/26/2017So I am looking at an Ascendant Audio Havoc 15 inch 1500W, dual 2 ohm, will wire in parallel to produce 1 ohm, planning on using AMPERE AUDIO AA-2000.1D amp; single channel, 1-ohm stable @ 2 KW. Firstly is this a good match up? Secondly, what are your recommendations in regards to vehicular upgrades, if necessary? All is stock as of now. (Vehicle is 2005 Toyota Rav4)...one more thing, I planned on a ported box tuned to 32 hz, again, any recommendations...I love SQ, but I do like volume as well. Input from someone as knowledgeable as yourself would be a blessing, thank you!
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 1/2/2017Leon, Your 4-gauge power wire and 100-amp fuse will work fine and using 8-gauge power wire from the distribution block to each of those amps will be okay. The Planet Audio amp has an onboard fuse so it wouldn't need a fuse after the distribution block. The Rockford Fosgate amp, however, will require a 50-amp fuse between the block and amp in order to be safe.
Leon from Duluth
Posted on 1/1/2017I have 2amps I'm installing sub amp is R500X1D prime and my doors is is planet audio RC800.4 I ruining 4 gauge from battery to distribution block would it be ok to run 8gauge from block to amps runs from block to amps is less than 2'' also do I need to fuse each amp from distribution block to amp on my 4 gauge to battery is 100 is this sufficient or do I need go larger
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 12/12/2016Chris, Going by those "power cube" specs you provided, the T1000-1bdCP will be a better match for those two subs. Going by what Rockford Fosgate lists as their nominal specs, the T1500-1bdCP would be better. In any case, either amp will work well with those subs. Subs don't pull power from amplifiers - they take it - so a subwoofer can never overburden an amplifier.
Chris from Texarkana
Posted on 12/12/2016Buck, I recently purchased 2 of the Rockford TOd412 subs, I will wire them for 1 ohm impedance to the amp, according to the Rockford power cube test the Power series t1000 at 1ohm will provide 1390 watts of power and the t1500 power series amp would do 1712 watts of power. The RF T0d412 is rated at 700rms/1400 peak, my question is which amp would be more sufficient to power this pair of subs? I'm afraid if I get the t1000 running those subs at 1ohm would overburden the amp, on the other hand the t1500 would be 125 watts over their rims.thanks for your help
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 12/1/2016Nathan, Subwoofers do not produce power (watts), they produce sound and heat. Amplifiers produce power. If you have an amplifier that can produce 450 watts RMS (important: RMS, not max or peak) it will require 4-gauge power and ground wiring. As for the speaker wire, between the amp and sub, 12-gauge or 14-gauge will do.
Nathan Johnson from Clewiston
Posted on 11/30/2016If I'm running a 12 inch sub that produces 400 watt RMS and 1500 watts Peak with a 450 watt amp. Will 8 gauge wire be ok?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 10/21/2016Gavin, I suspect that 2400 watts spec is a peak rating and not useful for planning an installation - I know of no 2-channel amp that can put out 1200 watts RMS per channel. But if you really do have an amp that can put out a total of 2400 watts RMS, then it'll need 1/0-gauge power wiring if it's a Class D amp, and 2/0 wiring if it's Class AB. If you want a more accurate answer to your question, you'll need to identify your gear by brand names and model numbers.
Gavin from Mountain ranch
Posted on 10/20/2016I have a 2400 watt 2 channel amp for 15"s .what gauge power wire should I use.I currently have a 6awg wire installed.is that enough
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 10/14/2016Shawn, Using that over-sized copper-clad aluminum wire should handle those amps' current draw just fine. Just be aware that CCA corrodes pretty quickly when exposed to the elements so be sure to protect and coat all connections.
Shawn from Orange
Posted on 10/13/2016I am running an Alpine PDR F50 to my JL components and a PDR M65 @ 2 ohms + JL line driver to a SWR 12D4. I have some 1/0 power wire that is CCA instead of OFC. Am I ok using the cheaper wire in a larger size such as this? Is the chart you provide for OFC or CCA wire? Will be running about 10-12' of the CCA wire to a dist. block and then 4 ga OFC wire to the amps.
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 10/10/2016Pankaj, Most stock vehicle system have about 15 watts RMS output per channel and use 18-gauge (1.02 mm diameter) wiring. If you plan on adding an amplifier with a total output of 110 watts RMS, then you will need a 10-gauge (2.59 mm diameter) or a 12-gauge (2.05 mm diameter) amp wiring kit, depending on the length of your installation. A good kit will include the proper fuse, for the safety of your car and system.
Pankaj
Posted on 10/9/2016How can I know the power and speaker cable size (awg) of my stock car wiring to its connector? Is a Ford Aspire 2016 (Indian Model) Is there commonly used stock wire sizes in cars? I plan to use a 110W RMS amp (without any head unit) and I doubt I need additional power wiring. But want to be sure instead of planning to fry my car wiring.
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 10/7/2016Chris, I don't think you've used the correct values for your amplifiers' RMS outputs. If your Orion CO800.1 is to run two 4-ohm subs, it'll probably see a 2-ohm total impedance load and could put out 400 watts RMS. That Rockford Fosgate amp will put out a total of 100 watts RM (50 x 2) to two 4-ohm speakers. This makes your amps' potential total output power 620 watts RMS, and potential power draw of 90A. For a 12-foot install, 4-gauge wire is good. As for the rest of the power and ground wiring, I'd use what each amplifier's specs call for, in this case, 8-gauge wire all around. Each amp will require at least that size for its ground, and you may as well match that for the short power wire from the amp to the distribution block. But 4-gauge will work fine, if it fits.
Chris from Boise
Posted on 10/6/2016I am getting ready to install 3 amps in my 97 Ford Explorer. I am going to be running an Orion Cobalt 8001 to drive a pair of 10" 4 ohm subs. An Orion Cobalt 3002 to drive a pair of 4 ohm components in the rear doors and a Rockford Fosgate P200-2 to drive a pair of 4 ohm components in the front doors. According to my calculations, 300+120+148=568x2=1136 divided by 13.8=82.32 total amp draw. At a distance of 12 ft. it shows I should run 6g or 4g. Since I already have 4g on hand, I'm going to run the 4g. My question is, should I run 4g off the distribution block to each of the amps as well as from the battery to the distribution block?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 7/15/2016Brandon, Ordinarily I'd recommend using 12- to 16-gauge speaker wire for subwoofers, but you have something special (huge power) and I think 10-gauge or 12-gauge speaker wire will work best. That amplifier calls for three pairs of 1/0-gauge power and ground wires, in order to feed it power correctly. Sundown recommends a high output alternator and additional battery for this amp, and goes on to say "a factory electrical system is NOT capable of supporting [this amp's] current draw demands."
Brandon from Dallas
Posted on 7/15/2016What kind of wires do I need for 2 sundown Zv5 15s 2000w rms rated, and and an Ns-1 6500 watt rms amplifier? I'm going to get an XS battery but I'm still deciding which I should get
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
Posted on 7/11/2016George, Looking at the owner's manual for those amps, I see the source of the confusion. Alpine says one thing on page 7, another on page 8, and then reverts to what it said on page 7 on page 9. I'll throw another curve your way. For consumer safety reasons, this article uses calculations based on a typical Class AB amplifier, which are usually about 50% efficient. Your Alpine amps are Class D, which typically run at 75% to 80% efficiency, and together won't draw more than about 65 amperes from the electrical system. You'll be fine running 4-gauge wire from the battery to a distribution block for those two amplifiers.
George from Concord
Posted on 7/10/2016Hey Buck, hoping you can help clarify something for me. I'm installing an Alpine MRV-M500 that will be driving 2 JL Audio 10's wired in parallel to present 2 ohms to the amp, so 500 Watts RMS. I'll also be running an Alpine MRV-F300 for my front and rear channels, which will be 50 Watts RMS x4 channels so 200 Watts RMS. Based on the formula above, I'm looking at total current draw of 101.4 amps which means that for up to a 16' foot run, I should be fine with 4 gauge from the battery to the distribution block. My issue is, Alpine is recommending 2 or 1/0 AWG for any run over 3 feet for the MRV-M500 and 4 or 2 AWG for longer than 3 foot runs feeding the MRV-F300. Based on the chart and formula above, I would think I should be able to run 4 AWG to the distribution block, then feed 4 AWG to the MRV-M500 and 8 AWG to the MRV-F300 but that contradicts what Alpine has in their manual. Which one is correct in this scenario?
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