hihoslva

I have ordered some new amps and a sub for my P5 - RockFos 250.2 (front doors) and 360.2 (to power a JBL sub) - so a little over 600 watts combined.

I also ordered a dual amp install kit from www.speakerhole.com - the kit has 4 gauge power and ground cables, and includes distribution blocks for both.

However, it seems as though the blocks are designed to accept the 4 gauge, but the "split" becomes 8 gauge (8 guage power and ground to/from each amp, the 4 gauge to battery and ground point).

Is this the best way to distribute the power and ground? Should the 4 gauge be used everywhere, and ditch the 8 guage?

BTW - I will be building a custom enclosure to house the amps and sub on the passenger side of the hatch area, with space efficiency, SQ, and good looks being top priorities - I'll post some pics when it's complete - couple weeks, probably.

Bruce95fmla

they usually accept the 4 guage and split into 8 gauge ,cause there are not many amps that can take a straight 4 gauge wire...
man have you ever tried putting a clamp on a 4 gauge wire , lol , those things are way to tuff
bruce

mazdaspeedwest

the 8awg split will be fine, as long as you keep them as short as possible. As Bruce said, not many amps will accept a 4awg cable. You will most likely find on bigger classD mono amps and big power 2ch amps some that can.

Putting a ring on a 4awg wire isn't all that hard. You can start it with a crimp tool and then hammer it, literally. Some company's make special punch tools for them too.

hihoslva

Thanks for the reassurance. I was planning to keep the 8 gauge as short as possible anyway (I think the kit only includes 4 feet of each, so that seems like a "given")

Just wanted to be sure. I'll definitely post some pics once I get this custom, space-saving enclosure all built and hooked up.

DJScribble

Those Rockford amps won't accept 4ga input. 8ga will be plenty.

Sweedenhouse

Uhh well I would personally run 4 ga. into a distro block for a system using 600 watts of power. And there are amps that take 4ga. Hell my Phoenix Gold amps take 2 ga. As soon as I finish my enlosure here in the next couple of months, I'm runnin 0 Ga. to a distro block then 2 into my sub ap and 4 into my mid amp. The 0 ga. might be a little overkill, but I don't wanna skimp out on any possible power loss, or overheating on my amps, being I run my sub amp at 1 ohm mono.

Maz94Protege

im using 10ga. and i can just easily get mine on. i dont know about a 4ga. geezus thats big. but you souldnt need it for those 2 amps. they dont drain enough to have to use that much wire.
id get 4ga only for the purpose of running 2 amps that equal 1000watts+ or just one amp that does over 900watts+. Maybe its me, i dunno. im fine with the 10ga.

tempop

damn sweedenhouse!! i dont know much about the pro5 just yet(still waiting for my order to come in).. but, have you ever thought about your alternator... im sure you will blow it up before you fry that 0ga. Overkill is an understatement..

hihoslva

Well, I'm just using what is suggested. I have 10 gauge running my crappy amp now, and even still I'm kinda unhappy with it. I went cheap on my first install, which I shouldn't have done - I noticed a significant difference in SQ on a buddy of mine's system - he originally had 10 gauge, then upgraded to 4 when he got a short (not really due to the 10 gauge, but he figured "why not"). The extra power handling of the thicker power/ground really did make a difference, and he is only running about a 600 watt sub amp - convinced me that once I upgraded my amp(s) I would do the same. And since I'll be running both amps (610 total RMS - peaks should be much higher) from one power and one ground wire and then distribution blocks, might as well run the 4 split to 8 gauge. I just wanted to be sure that splitting the 4 into two 8s was the best way to go.

I certainly don't need 2 or 0 gauge with my setup - maybe the 4 is even a bit overdoing it - but better safe than sorry, and I think the SQ will be better with better wire.

Sweedenhouse

Yeah I've thought about my alternator. I've been puttin in stereos for years. Right now I'm just gonna run a big *** cap, with my Optima battery. As soon as I find a good alternator I want I will definitely invest in one. I had a Phoenix Gold alternator in my Escort (I know it sucks it was my first ride), then with my last car my Eclipse, I only ran an Optima battery no cap, with a run of 2 ga. to MPS2250, and another run of 4 ga. to my MPS2240. So I'm not too terribly worried yet, I know how to manage the current draws for big stereos.

Mr_Green

Sweedenhouse: you've got the right idea, and i'm thinkin you know what you're doin, but i don't think Mazda puts the greatest alertantors in these things. the battery may work, but i'd do the Phoenix Gold alertnator. (those things are sweet )

Mr Green

jcilforever

Run your 4 awg to a central point and mount the distribution block. 8 awg should be enough for what you have from the block to each amp. I bought a wire kit from knukonceptz.com off of ebay I only paid 20 bucks for a one amp 8 awg kit includes 20ft of 740 strand tinned ofc (blue) and 4ft of same (clear) one shielded RCA, 20ft of 12 awg speaker wire, a fuse holder, wire loom, 50 amp fuse and all gold connectors needed. I will have to post some pictures, I will finish tomorrow putting in the Infinity basslink then I have to go out of town.

DanMan

OK, I'm gonna have to get a dual amp set up in the back because my Deck only has two pre-outs and I'm not sure how to hook it all up, do I have to run another line from the battery can the two amps share the remote, can they be ground to the same spot, will my car die, right now i'm only running 60 watts 2ohm to two dual voice coil Pionerrr IMPP's, and my system now is loud, i mean it bumps as well as systems with 4 times more the watts. Oh and its a kicker amp, I'm looking at getting the 400.4B Lightning Audio amp and for the subs- and using my Kicker amp for my infinity 6X9's which handle 300 watts, and then I gotta get another amp for my MB Quarts in the front. but the real question is about the rear amps.

hihoslva

You don't need to run another line if what you've got now is sufficient to handle 2 amps.

What I am doing is - I'm running 4 gauge cable to a distribution block, which will split into two 8 gauge - one for each amp. Same thing with the grounds.

Yes, you can share the same remote wire for both amps.

You can see some pics of my amp rack (uninstalled) here. There is a shot of the distribution blocks, too, but only the 8 gauge is installed right now.

I'm not sure yet if I will need a capacitor (stores some extra juice so your lights don't pulse) but I can always put that in later if I need it.

DanMan

But where are you grounding your amps, one question and how much did those two routers cost, one was for power and the otehr I think was for ground, wheres the remote routers, how much was that board, where did you get it and where will you mount it, oh ya that switch is like.... sweet. Did you route your rca cords and remote under carpet or throught kick boards under door. I put my power cable under driver side door kick boards. One more thing where were you gonna set up that front Sub Box. you had better respond I have to many question for you no to answer I'll do somthing dumb if they are nt answerd