Car audio question: power cable gauge?

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RagingBITCH

Lifer
Sep 27, 2003
17,618
2
76
Ok I know there are some knowledgeable people here so hopefully someone can school a n00b like myself:

I just bought an Infinity Basslink. (Before you say you could have better quality bass, etc etc I value my trunk space) I'm trying to figure out what gauge power cable I need to hook it up with.

http://www.cardomain.com/item/INFBASSLINK

Basslink Manual

The Basslink basically uses a 200w built in class D mono amp. I bought a wiring kit that includes 14ft EFX2 4 gauge power cable, 6 ft EFX2 8 gauge power cable, 4 ft EFX2 8 gauge ground cable, some other wires, an In-Line Fuse holder with 100amp fuse, and a 4-8 gauge power distribution block. I'd assume the 4 gauge runs to the battery and the 8 gauge would run from the block to the amp?

Now this is the only amp/sub I plan on adding to the car right now, so I'm not going to be using the distribution block. The manual says that the Basslink needs at least a 12 gauge - is it technically overkill/cause any future problems to use 4 gauge? The only real downside to using 4 as opposed to an 8/10/12 would be the thickness of the cable? The reason for buying the 4/8 gauge kit was because it was only $5 more than the 8/10/12 gauge kits, so I figured what the hell. (Says it can handle up to 700w RMS on the front) Would I be better off returning this one and going with the smaller diameter power wire? (the 8/10/12)

And if I plan on adding a "real" amp/sub combo in the future, it'd probably be a good thing if I already had the 4 gauge installed instead of having to rip it all out and put in some 4/8?

Thanks for the help :)
 
NutBucket

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,155
635
126
Use 10 gauge. You'll be fine. I just bought one for my gf actually along with an 8 gauge kit (overkill but it was still cheap). What kind of deal did you get?

EDIT: There is nothing wrong with using 4 gauge, even though its total overkill.
 
M

mztykal

Diamond Member
Apr 21, 2000
6,713
48
91
I'd use 8-guage. 4-guage is waaay too much and sooo close to super overkill that it'd be pointless.
 
R

RagingBITCH

Lifer
Sep 27, 2003
17,618
2
76
Ehh it wasnt a super deal so to speak, under 200 shipped, but I really miss having low end in my music right now, and a lot of people have been marveling about the Basslink in their 7th gens. So I should just return the 4/8 kit and get some 10?
 
C

cremator

Senior member
Sep 21, 2001
643
0
0
Yeah, you can go with a higher gauge on such a low wattage system. I'm personally saving up for dual 2000watt amps, which will probally take some 2 gauge or lower. But I'm a big fan of hard bass.
Edit: I'd keep the 4/8 gauge so in the future if you plan to get a bigger amp you'll have it at your disposal, it won't hurt anything.
 
R

RagingBITCH

Lifer
Sep 27, 2003
17,618
2
76
Originally posted by: cremator
Yeah, you can go with a higher gauge on such a low wattage system. I'm personally saving up for dual 2000watt amps, which will probally take some 2 gauge or lower. But I'm a big fan of hard bass.
Click to expand...

:shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :shocked:

"Can you hear me now? What'd you say? What?" :D
 
C

cremator

Senior member
Sep 21, 2001
643
0
0
Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Originally posted by: cremator
Yeah, you can go with a higher gauge on such a low wattage system. I'm personally saving up for dual 2000watt amps, which will probally take some 2 gauge or lower. But I'm a big fan of hard bass.
Click to expand...

:shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :shocked:

"Can you hear me now? What'd you say? What?" :D
Click to expand...

Yeah, seems like overkill, but its really cheap on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=18796&item=5703878418&rd=1
 
C

cremator

Senior member
Sep 21, 2001
643
0
0
Also, I'd never suggest buying wiring kits from local stores. While they are closer and probally offer better warrantys than Ebay, they charge an extreme ammount for the lower gauge wires, at least in my area. They want like 120$ for a 4 gauge kit at a local Auto Customs store. I can get that on ebay for less than 30$.
 
9

95SS

Golden Member
Nov 30, 2003
1,630
0
76
If you plan to upgrade in the future, I'd say go with the kit you have. Might as well put the distribution block in as well, as it's an easy way to drop from 4ga down to 8 or 10 ga for your basslink (I can't imangine it being able to take 4ga) Then when you upgrade, you wont have to do any long cable runs.
 
NutBucket

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,155
635
126
Originally posted by: cremator
Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Originally posted by: cremator
Yeah, you can go with a higher gauge on such a low wattage system. I'm personally saving up for dual 2000watt amps, which will probally take some 2 gauge or lower. But I'm a big fan of hard bass.
Click to expand...

:shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :shocked:

"Can you hear me now? What'd you say? What?" :D
Click to expand...

Yeah, seems like overkill, but its really cheap on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=18796&item=5703878418&rd=1
Click to expand...

Uhm, is that amp at all reputable?
 
minendo

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
35,560
22
81
Originally posted by: NutBucket
Originally posted by: cremator
Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Originally posted by: cremator
Yeah, you can go with a higher gauge on such a low wattage system. I'm personally saving up for dual 2000watt amps, which will probally take some 2 gauge or lower. But I'm a big fan of hard bass.
Click to expand...

:shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :shocked:

"Can you hear me now? What'd you say? What?" :D
Click to expand...

Yeah, seems like overkill, but its really cheap on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=18796&item=5703878418&rd=1
Click to expand...

Uhm, is that amp at all reputable?
Click to expand...

Sure. As a piece of sh!t.
 
M

MikeMike

Lifer
Feb 6, 2000
45,885
66
91
i have NEVER heard of american legacy. NEVER!!! as in STAY AWAY!!
it probably has like 60 amp fuse on it too (and thats a random guess, and prolly way more than actually on there)

if you want dual 2Kw system, ummmmm your gunna need more than 2 guage wire, your prolly talking either a dual run of 1/0 guage cable, or a run on 0/2 guage welding cable.
and the subs to handle that much power arent cheap, nor do most of them sound good, unless you go with a lot of a certain type.

Also, Raging just put the 4 guage wire, run it to the distro, then run the 8 guage out of the distro block, it wont matter, and it will be easier later on.

MIKE
 
T

Templeton

Senior member
Oct 9, 1999
467
0
0
You wont see any negative effects from running 4 gauge aside from the pita it is to run through the firewall. If there is any chance of you upgrading in the future, definitely stick with the 4g for only $5 more.
 
M

MikeMike

Lifer
Feb 6, 2000
45,885
66
91
Originally posted by: Templeton
You wont see any negative effects from running 4 gauge aside from the pita it is to run through the firewall. If there is any chance of you upgrading in the future, definitely stick with the 4g for only $5 more.
Click to expand...

try running 1/0 guage through the firewall (i have) and it was fun.

MIKE
 
R

RagingBITCH

Lifer
Sep 27, 2003
17,618
2
76
Hey guys - thanks for the help. Returned the kit and bought one that's 8 gauge. :) Seriously, thanks for the help :)
 
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