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What gauge power lead to amp?



  Ph1 172 + Combo van
Upgrading my amplifier to power my front door speakers aswell now and i need to know whether i need a new power lead.

So what gauge do i need to run this amp?

JBL GTO-1004e
3 channel mode: 2 x 100W RMS + 200W RMS for sub

i have more specs if needed
 
  Ph1 172 + Combo van
what is the biggest people have got through the bonnet release grommit aswell while im here?
 
  vaux cavalier
If only using the single amp then 4awg will be fine....

If any chance of future upgrades, (for example this amp driving fronts bridged or fronts & rears plus a beefy mono), then I would fit 0awg now to save doing it again later....
 
  Ph1 172 + Combo van
well it should be fun installing the new power lead my current one is 10awg i think:S
 
  Ph1 172 + Combo van
what about the speaker wires to run from the amp to the front doors any gauge or a link to reccomend some?
 
  Focus RS Mk1
If only using the single amp then 4awg will be fine....

If any chance of future upgrades, (for example this amp driving fronts bridged or fronts & rears plus a beefy mono), then I would fit 0awg now to save doing it again later....

0awg is totally overkill for the above applications...

Ive run 3 amps all from 4 gauge before, never had any power issues. All on JL audio gear too.

original poster, 4 gauge will be fine. nothing more needed. not until you start drawing huge current.
 
  vaux cavalier
If only using the single amp then 4awg will be fine....

If any chance of future upgrades, (for example this amp driving fronts bridged or fronts & rears plus a beefy mono), then I would fit 0awg now to save doing it again later....

0awg is totally overkill for the above applications...

Ive run 3 amps all from 4 gauge before, never had any power issues. All on JL audio gear too.

original poster, 4 gauge will be fine. nothing more needed. not until you start drawing huge current.

0awg is totally overkill for the above applications...

Did you bother reading my post....

Ive run 3 amps all from 4 gauge before, never had any power issues. All on JL audio gear too.

^^Good for you:D^^

original poster, 4 gauge will be fine. nothing more needed. not until you start drawing huge current.

Strange, I thought thats what I said, but I pointed out its cheaper and easier to buy 0awg now and save on added cost and fitting time doing it all again....It's known as 'future proofing'....

The present amp delivers upto 300watts rms into 2chs. (bridged), draw at this output will be around 75amps to 80amps, 4awg at approx 12ft will handle 80 amps with minimal voltage drop.....

Add a 'beefy mono' and 4awg is out the window, if you assume, (as I did), that upto 600w rms into a front set would warrant a matched JBL GTO 14001e mono amp then 0awg becomes a must, (this amp likes lots of power at upto 1500w rms into 2ohm)....
 
  Ph1 172 + Combo van
What about the REM lead from the headunit, this doesnt have to be upgraded does it?


Have You bought your new amp alex?
Not yet im trying to get all the wiring and items i will need to fit it first
 
I have 3 amps run off 0 Gauge, split to 4 gauge.

That is what i'd do. No messing around. Just go straight for it and can upgrade to what-ever you want!

My Specs if your interested:

3 Pre-out headunit

2 x 1400wrms Subs to 2 x mono amps at 1250wrms - wired to 2 Ohm.

4 channel 125wrms x4 speaker amp

All the 'Big Three' were upgraded, all terminal blocks upgraded. Battery upgrade.


Spend Money To Save Money! (Don't buy cheap crap if your going to upgrade in the future, save and buy what you want)
 
What about the REM lead from the headunit, this doesnt have to be upgraded does it?

By this I can see you don't quite understand what an REM does!

REM is like a switch. As soon as a tiny bit of power goes through it, it turns on the amp. I have the standard REM which I have put in series with the 3 amps.

:)
 
  Ph1 172 + Combo van
What about the REM lead from the headunit, this doesnt have to be upgraded does it?

By this I can see you don't quite understand what an REM does!

REM is like a switch. As soon as a tiny bit of power goes through it, it turns on the amp. I have the standard REM which I have put in series with the 3 amps.

:)
Yep its what i though i just had to make sure as everything i have at the moment has to be upgraded.


on the clios currently what earthing does it have?

is it from the engine block to the negative on the battery or engine block to the chasis?

i know one, the battery negative to the chasis. any others?
 
4 gauge is massive.... but it is needed if planning to upgrade.


Search the 'Big Three' on www.talkaudio.co.uk. All the info you need!

What I have said in the thread, is to encourage you to think 'Are you going to upgrade in the future' - if so why not spend a little extra and get what you will want in the end.

Also is you are going for higher end stuff. OD you need to upgrade power cables earthing, RCA cables......

PM me if you wana know anything else... I have alot of useful experience.
 
  Ph1 172 + Combo van
cheers mate you are really helpful and you obviosly know your stuff so i have another question for you if you dont mind.

the speaker wires going to the doors. these have to go under the carpet as the power leads are down the trims on the sides of the car. do i have to take the front seats out or is it possible to just fish it through the seats underneath the carpet. thanks

also at the moment i have the rem lead running along the same side of the car as the rca to the boot. should i move it to the same side as the power lead or isit not going to make a difference? i assume no as it is only a tiny amount of power?
 
If u have a shielded RCAs cables u can run em next to the power cable and REM thats what i did and there is no interference. But running the RCA next to the remote wire shud be fine. as for the front speaker wires, are they coming from the boot to the front because they are running off an amp instead of straight from the head unit? i think you could feed them out of the boot under the rear seats then under the carpet to the front, will probally be tricky but shouldn't need to take out the seats. :)
 
  Ph1 172 + Combo van
ok cheers i think i can do it, would be a pain to take them out with all of the airbag and seatbelt gear plus you have to unbolt them from under the car i think
 
ok cheers i think i can do it, would be a pain to take them out with all of the airbag and seatbelt gear plus you have to unbolt them from under the car i think


Disconnect the battery, before you proceed....wait 5 mins....

Seats are easy to take out! 4 bolts under the car(Under rubber gromits). 10mm bolts... maybe 8mm?

The airbag cables disconnect...usually. Or if not. lean the seat away from the carpet(Watch out for sharp edges catching on your other seats!)

Take off side plastic trim. Pull up carpet. Cut small groves in the squishy stuff, for the cables.

Don't worry about the REM cable, unless you are going for pure SQ and are installing a massive set-up. (But I don't see you doing that.)
 
  Ph1 172 + Combo van
i had a little go today at feeding the speaker cables, i think i might take the seats out as it was a bit of a bugger. you make it sound easy and all of the wiring will be nice and neat that way. cheers.
 
i had a little go today at feeding the speaker cables, i think i might take the seats out as it was a bit of a bugger. you make it SOUND easy and all of the wiring will be nice and neat that way. cheers.

:approve:

Disclaimer..... Anything to-do with speaker installs always SOUNDS easy. NEVER is!
 
  Mk2 172
If only using the single amp then 4awg will be fine....

If any chance of future upgrades, (for example this amp driving fronts bridged or fronts & rears plus a beefy mono), then I would fit 0awg now to save doing it again later....

0awg is totally overkill for the above applications...

Ive run 3 amps all from 4 gauge before, never had any power issues. All on JL audio gear too.

original poster, 4 gauge will be fine. nothing more needed. not until you start drawing huge current.

Well your not right there tbh!
All JL audio amplifiers should have a 4 gauge power cable going to each amplifier. Yes it will work only running one in but there is goin to be quite alot of current draw going down that cable. I work for a JL audio dealer and we are currently building there UK demo car. Cable sizes etc are vital!!!!
I would run at least a 4 gauge in to run one decent sized amp. By putting a bigger cable than that in just allows you to adapt the system at a later date
 
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