Running 2 Amps

[richard691]

I've just fitted an amp for my speakers and it took me ages to get the wiring perfectly down the door sill and now I want to buy a sub and realised I need to wire up another amp. Is there a way that I can run the second amp from the original one I installed because I cant be bothered to do all the wiring again plus I havent got another 2 phono sockets on the back of my headunit free to use nor have i got another remote wire?

 

[Claire]

do your amps have pass through? because you could daisy chain

 

[richard691]

pass through?

 

[Claire]

pass through?

so that you can use the same rca

 

[Dink]

csa of power cable???

 

[Claire]

csa of power cable???

I dont tihnk he knows - so far its 'thick'!

 

[Dalco type R]

you can use the cables if:

1 - Your power cable is thick enough,

If it is to thin it wont be able to deliver enough power to each am, it will get hot and possibly melt the insulation causing obvious damage,

2 - You amp has pass out,

If you amp has another set of RCA terminals on which say PASS OUT, this takes the incoming signal and allows it to "pass out" of the amp into another,

If not you could use a set of "Y" adaptor leads, about £3 each.

3 - You can loop of you existing remote cable, it will do 2 amps ok, any more and you may need a relay to turn them on.

Steve

 

[richard691]

Its from this package:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=14932&item=5815881216

 

[richard691]

so i could just connect a wire from the remote wire on my amp to the remote out on my other amp, so i wouldnt have to run any more wires down to the head unit or would i need to for the sub?

 

[Dink]

tbh i wouldn't run more than one amp off 10mm2(8 a.w.g)

 

[JAMESSRICH]

2 gauge is what u want ideally for two amps but then it also depends on what the rating of your amps are!!!

 

[richard691]

isnt it thick enough, took me ages to drill a hole to get it through into the engine bay, dont want to have to do it again.

 

[JAMESSRICH]

depends what amps you are running???

im running two v12 alpines and they are well thirsty on current drain!!

 

[richard691]

ive currently got a 450w amp but want to get another amp which would be 1000w.

 

[Dink]

i wouldn't pull much more than about 50A down 10mm2

which about 420wRMS output for class ab (normal amps) OR

525wRMS output for a class d (monoblock amps)

 

[richard691]

ive changed the fuse to 60a mate

 

[Dink]

well you can do that but i wouldn't

it not designed to take that much current

 

[richard691]

i havent been out to get another amp, i currently have a 450w infinity amp so what do you think i should get wattage wise which the power cable will handle?

 

[Dink]

that should be ok on 8 a.w.g

if you was to get a 1000w? amp then you would need another run of 4 a.w.g

 

[richard691]

could i run a less powerful amp on the same power cable?

 

[Dink]

well you say you have a 450w(is that RMS?) amp on there at the mo

you could but if it is for a sub then it is going to be piss poor

 

[richard691]

Yes its 450w rms, so i gonna have to run a 2nd power cable to the battery, so more holes to be drilled?

 

[Claire]

yep. in vague description, 8awg cant really take more than 600w, and even that is pushing it sometimes.
You NEED to run 4awg imo. and probably some RCA if you have no passout

 

[Dink]

i don't see how you need to drill holes. i used the grommet but then i did use 8 a.w.g x3

 

[richard691]

Mine wouldnt fit through the grommet had to drill a hole and i dont want to have loads of holes in my car.

 

[Pauldredge]

just replace the power cable with a hight guage one, thats what i done anyway.

 

[richard691]

then the hole ive drilled will be too small.

 

[richard691]

So what about if i get a length of new power cable and join it from the power terminal on the new amp to the power terminal on my old amp, would that be ok because then, i could have 2 fuses in the circuit, dont know what amp fuses to use though?

 

[Dink]

you will still be using the same length running from your batt which won't be up to the job

 

[richard691]

So theres no way at getting round feeding 2 amp power cables to the battery?

 

[Dink]

nope

 

[richard691]

Damn i'll have to drill another hole then.

 

[Dink]

yeap and make sure it's big enough for a 4 a.w.gmad:) cable

 

[richard691]

why 4awg, can i just feed another 8awg through?

 

[Dink]

arn't you getting a 1000w amp?

 

[richard691]

was thinking about it but i might just get another 450w or an 800w amp.

 

[Dink]

i wouldn't pull much more than about 50A down 10mm2

which about 420wRMS output for class ab (normal amps) OR

525wRMS output for a class d (monoblock amps)

this is the absolute max for 8 a.w.gmad:)

 

[richard691]

whats the absolute max, 450w down an 8awg cable?

 

[Dink]

yeah 420wRMS output from an amp is the max

 

[raf182]

Take 8awg cable out, make existing hole bigger run 4awg through to a distribution block in the rear and there you go. Easy Peasy