Hey all. I have a sony 150x2 amp in the spare tire area. I'm getting a sub and im gonna add ANOTHER 500x1 amp for the sub. question is, can i simply tap the 8 gauge wire i already have running to the sony amp? Or is it recommended to run a separate 12v lead to the new amp? or use thicker gauge wires?

 

Yes run another power wire. One 8 gauge wire is only good for about 40 amps of current draw. I would leave the 8 gauge and run a 4 gauge for the 500 watt sub amp.

 

damn! double damn! Running an 8 guage wire through the firewall hole was hard enough!!!! now i gotta run a 4!? thanks for the advice

 

I ran my power wires through the factory black rubber grommet up high on the passenger side firewall by the battery. It has some factory wires going through it. I just cut or punched a hole through it to the side of the factory wires and ran the powerwire through. It didnt take me but a minute but thats what I do for a living.

 

[QUOTE=bobby,Sep 15 2004, 01:54 PM]Yes run another power wire.

 

http://www.epanorama.net/documents/wiring/...resistance.html

Scroll down till ya see "car audio cable recommendations

 

thanks again.. i doubt my sony is pulling 300 wats. as i recall, i only turned them up half way... I doubt the sub amp will pull 500 watts either. They sub i may get only has ~200 RMS, so any sub i get, even 500 peak watt sub, i'd only be pushing no more that n 250 watts right? What are the consequences of just piggybacking the 8 guage? FIRE??!

 

If your amps together are 500 rms (200 + 300), then the 8 ga should be fine. That's 40 amps full power (probably less since a running car's voltage is around 14 volts).

Place a 40 amp fuse in line with both amps. If you blow the fuse, then just run the 4 ga, if you don't blow it, then you should have no problems.

As long as you size the fuse relative to the wire size, wire heating shouldn't be a problem, so don't upgrade the fuse without upgrading the wire, then you'll see your fire.

 

great.. thanks a lot guys.