Powering amp question

[Fern]

I have already run 2 power cables from battery to trunk. one was going to be for amp and the other for a powered sub. Well the wires are 8 gauge, with 60amp fuse, which was fine when run last year. A friend of mine gave me a alpine pdx-5 amp, which requires a 4 gauge wire with 60 amp fuse.

my question is can I still run the 8 ga wire (since they are both 60 amp fuses), or if not can I use both wires and tie the ends together even though they are seperate wires?

Thanks

[Bullitt-]

How long is the run....one-8-guage may be all you need




http://www.crutchfield.com/S-sxnIMntYSck/learn/learningcenter/car/cable_gauge_chart.html

[Fern]

Ok, from the chart provided I need a 4ga wire.

Can I use the 2 seperate 8ga wires I have already run and tie them together at each end and work?

Trying not to have to pull the carpet and seats out to run a new wire.

Thanks

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Can I use the 2 seperate 8ga wires I have already run and tie them together at each end and work?

Trying not to have to pull the carpet and seats out to run a new wire.

I wouldn't fret too much with this. If you want to use two 8ga wires, that will be fine.

I don't recall the size of wire I have running to my trunk for an aftermarket amp, but it came with a 30 amp fuse that was toast from the factory (How does that happen?). So I installed a 15 amp fuse in it's place, since that was the only fuse I had that would fit. The 15 amp fuse has never blown.  I have since bought 30 amp fuses, but haven't had a need to use them yet.

So my point is, I think they lean on the side of caution with the wiring and fuse size. This is my opinion of course.   

[Chryco Psycho]

2 8 ga wires should handle the load easily but it may not be protected properly using 2 60 amp fuses as it would take 60 amps down each wire to cause the fuse to blow so you would want to tie both wires to a single fuse

[GreenFishie]

A little late but .... you should be fine so long as you're not taxing your amp and pushing something like 100 RMS constantly. Seriously ... you'll go deaf.

It's a nice amp and I don't know too many people that would hand over a 700 dollar piece of automotive sound equipment. That's a serious amp, and a class D to boot. You need to protect it.

Get a 4 gauge fused distribution block, take both of your 8 gauge wires and clean them up. Cut the exposed ends off and re- strip them and then couple them with solder. Do not twist them together. Connect that to the block and then run a short stretch of 4 gauge to the amp.

This way if there's a load issue it will happen at the block and not at your amp.

Class D amps can be fickle and are a bit more delicate than older mosfets.

[Fern]

A little late but .... you should be fine so long as you're not taxing your amp and pushing something like 100 RMS constantly. Seriously ... you'll go deaf.

It's a nice amp and I don't know too many people that would hand over a 700 dollar piece of automotive sound equipment. That's a serious amp, and a class D to boot. You need to protect it.

Get a 4 gauge fused distribution block, take both of your 8 gauge wires and clean them up. Cut the exposed ends off and re- strip them and then couple them with solder. Do not twist them together. Connect that to the block and then run a short stretch of 4 gauge to the amp.

This way if there's a load issue it will happen at the block and not at your amp.


Thanks, great advice