Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Audio 8 gauge - 4 gauge ??

I've been looking around & around trying to find a definative answer , but it seems to be personal preference ... or is it ??

What gauge power wire kit would you guys suggest to run a Sony xm-280gtx 2 channel amp (IIRC max 480 watt x1 bridged , 200 x2 , 80? watt rms) - driving 2 12" Sony xs-L1200b subs (800 watt max , 50-200 watt rms each) ?? I suppose it wouldn't hurt to run a bit of overkill & get 4 gauge , but is it worth the extra effort to fish a larger wire through the car ? I don't know if I'm gonna keep my car long enough to do a future upgrade , or if I'll run the dual subs for long , but I don't want to choke the amp either . How big of an amp can you "safely" run off an 8 gauge wire kit ??

I just thought of another related question ... what size fuse would one run with this setup (or a similar one) ??

Help out a confused audio-newbie !

Allen, the 8 gauge kit should be plenty for that amp. I did some research on that amp and it is rated at 200 watts rms x 1 into a 4 ohm load. Amp kits almost always say on the packaging how many watts the kit is designed for.

As far as what size fuse to use. See if you can find in the manual what the max current draw is for the amp. The Sony amp should have some means of internal protection such as fuses. The fuses that you run in-line with your power wire are more so to prevent you from catching your car on fire. I couldn't imagine you needing a fuse any bigger than say 40 amps though.

Ohh yeah I just remembered. The amp might have a fuse or even two that are accessible externally. For example sometimes instead of using one 40 amp fuse a manufactuer might have two 20 amp fuses that are accessible externally. If that is the case then there is your answer for how big of a fuse to use in-line with your power wire if they don't state the max current draw in the manual.

http://www.knukonceptz.com/assets/pdf/PowerWireSpec.pdf

Contains a power wire chart and other basic information

Thanks for the good info , SQL . I'll do a bit more reading into the amp too .

Knu - I was on your site earlier looking around - unfortunately , I must be having Acrobat issues because the chart you pointed out (in your link) doesn't work for me . It just shows up as a black box . Maybe I'll try again later .

it would be absolutely silly to run an 8 guage. if you're going through the hassle, why not put a 4 guage in there to start with... that way, if you upgrade to another amp or additional amps, you won't have to do it twice. plus headroom is always a good idea on an inefficient amp like a sony.

I doubt you'll see ME , personally) going much bigger (if at all) with an amp/subs . I'm just not that into it . I just want to do a bit of "filling in" down low , not thump the block . If anything , I can see me probably ending up with a single sub (maybe even 10") , as two 12's in a box REALLY eats up trunk space . We don't really use the car much , and most of it's mileage is on trips w/stuff in the trunk , so hogging up the trunk w/a giant sub box may not fly for long . And taking the box out of the trunk for trips kinda defeats the purpose of doing the subs/amp , as that's the main time we use the car (and want to hear good sound) . This whole setup is just to hold me over till the next ride shines it's face on me .

Care to explain "headroom" to a newbie ?? Would that be something to the effect that it doesn't hurt to have "too much" power running back to the amp - for when it needs it ? Just a guess . Isn't that what a cap. is for (in essence) ? Am I close ?

I just want to run the "correct" wiring for the setup (if that makes any sense ?) . The cost difference is really negligable between 4 & 8 gauge .