i used to run two separate amps each about 200 watts, so i had two 8 gauge power/ground wires.

however, i just got a 4 channel 400 watt amp to replace the two amps, and the manual says i need a 4 or 6 gauge wire.

so can i just combine the two 8 gauge power wires that i already have running or should i use just one 4 gauge? is one 8 gauge not enough to power the new amp?

thanks guys,

dan

 

when in doubt....go bigger.

I am running a JL 300/4 and i have 4 guage running to it.

 

good 8g is good for up 500rms, so u don't have too, but if the 8g you have is cheap, then might as well upgrade to 4

 

Hopefully an actual EE will jump in, but I believe the current carrying
capacity of two 8-ga wires is higher than one 6-ga, so from that
perspective it's ok. The tricky part I would think is making sure you
have really good connections between the two wires at the amp end
so that current travels equally well through both. And you'll need to
have each wire fused at the battery end with a fuse appropriate for an
8-ga wire. The issue with all of this is that if one wire fails to make a
good connection (or its fuse blows) all the current will pass through
the other one and will likely blow its fuse (or melt if fused inappropriately)

 

The lower number the thicker.

(2) 8g=(1) 4g IMO

10g=400w
8g=600w
4g=800w
2g=1000w RMS

Better safe than sorry, go big so you dont go back.

http://www.the12volt.com/wiring/recwirsz.asp

 

i really hope that you don't plan on running two 8g lines together, there is no point in doing that, and if you did, it would probably just cuae you more problems than good.

just run a single line, either 8 or 4

 

thanks for the replies everyone.

i've heard that wires are wires though, but currently i have an ixos brand 8g wire fused near the battery and a streetwires brand 8g fused near the battery. which would be the better one to run singly?

 

Yes, the type of wire will make a difference, but for short runs it won't matter much.

Assuming you are talking about the same brand/type of wire (same material) 8AWG vs. 4AWG, the 4AWG is a better choice than the two 8AWG. 8AWG has an area of 8.37mm^2 whereas 4AWG has an area of 21.2mm^2, more than twice the area of two 8AWG wires. Since resistance

 

yep oter vortechs2k is right, but i still don't understand why anyone would even think of running 2 power wires to the same terminals? it makes nooo sense

 

if you read his original post, they're already run (had two amps)