wire gauge?

[izackary]

for simplicity's sake, let's say i plan to hook up a memphis belle. (i'm not really, but the power specs are the same that i plan to have). Is 4 gauge adequate? or does this cross the line into 0 gauge?

FYI: a memphis belle (the better of the 2) puts out 75W rms x 4 at 4 ohms, and 1100W rms x 1 at 1 ohm

 

[CQ7String]

4AWG should be fine, but if you can swing the zero - bigger is always better.

Keep in mind that not a lot of amps have the connections to be able to take a zero gauge wire in the first place.

 

[metalhed]

If your amp will only accept 4ga, you could always run 0ga to the rear and have it tie into a distribution block.

 

[izackary]

the 0 gauge kit i can buy locally i a hundred bucks (last i checked) and comes with a 2-output distro-block. and it's blue like my truck. the 4 gauge i believe is 80. both are stinger if that makes any difference.

 

[rydinhigh]

Go with 2 or 0 guage if you are not going to run another power source ie battery or cap.

 

[izackary]

2 gauge?

you think if i wired in a cap, 0 gauge wouldn't be necessary? i hadn't thought of a cap yet...i imagine if i run 1kW of bass a cap would help a little, huh?

 

[CQ7String]

If you're honestly pushing 1000W RMS to your sub, yes - you absolutely want a cap.

 

[Fixxer]

Nooooo... Don't get a cap. If you get dimming upgrade the big 3 and your alt.

 

[CQ7String]

You do realize the purpose of a cap, yea?

A capacitor is linear in your power chain. It's not like you're hooking a giant AA battery up to your amplifier that runs until it's drained and then recharges while you drive around.

It's function is only to provide extra power in your voltage chain when your amp needs it, so that in instances of bigger draw your amp pulls from the cap instead of your alternator which has every accessory drawing off of it. It provides clean power in instances when it's needed.

A farad is just a measure of electrical capacity. The more farads your cap is, the more voltage it stores. One amp drawing low power would benefit the same from a 1f cap as it would a 15f - it only pulls what it needs, when it needs it.

Having a cap in the chain doesn't (or shouldn't, if it's working and installed properly) effect amp performance at all when it's not needed. I'm not saying that it's sitting idle - stuff like your air conditioning, heater, etc -draws current and amps from your alternator, which without any sort of current control makes it's way to your amp, since your amp is part of the electrical system in your car as soon as you give it power and ground.

 

[mhn3773]

if u have a little bit of dim in ur lights when it hits hard..get a 1 farad cap...if it dims alot the cap u need is like a 5 farad and that will cost as much if not more then an alt and a battery..which is why most people dont like caps
they kind of make a problem go away that u should have just delt with in the first place for equal or a bit more money

 

[expo5.0]

well that and they only make the symptoms go away...

while the true solution actually makes it better (increases the voltage you get to your amp)

 

[CQ7String]

The voltage stays constant, it's the available amperage that changes.

 

[mhn3773]

the voltage does not stay constant =)...thats why lights dim because the voltage is dropping?? or am i wrong?? i dont know much about amps and volts =) hence the smileys

 

[izackary]

CQ7 is correct; the current (aka amperage) draw varies with what the amp pulls at any given time. In case you're unsure, voltage is essentially a unit of electrical pressure. current is the flow of electrical energy. it's like water; larger gauge wire is like a larger water pipe for the current to flow thru. constant voltage means a constant pressure. when your lights dim, it's not losing voltage per se, it's getting less current. if you want to get technical, the voltage does change as a result because the resistance of the bulb filament is the same. less current @ the same resistance = less voltage. confused yet?

 

[expo5.0]

sorry-

i mis-presented the fact up there. After getting an A in calc based physics i shoudln't mess that stuff up- actually nevermind after getting an A from the professor here at the u of m that i took i shouldn't know anything.

 

[izackary]

it's ok, drew. mistakes happen to the best of us! hey i didn't even know how many headlight bulb we used till you cleared me up on it!