Rubber Grommets

[Brycestro]

Me again, another question,

I'm wanting to run my power cable for my amplifier through the firewall and understand the best way to do this is through a rubber grommet. Note - i have run a thin wire through a rubber grommet positioned on the driver's side before for a relay, so i've got an idea of how to run it through. BUT - being as it's a big fat wire for the amplifier i've been advised i should try and aim for the clutch grommet as i have an automatic and this will be an unused grommet with plenty of space. NOW - here comes the part i'm not too certain on.. What is the best way to get a hole in it to get the wire through? Is it best to drill the rubber grommet where it is and then feed it through or pry it off as i've heard someone else say and then do it or what? Also if i did pry it off how would you go about reattaching it? some superglue or what? Another thing... i've read a few posts about people adding their own rubber grommets... where exactly do you buy the rubber grommets from and how would you attach it? just glue once again?

Also, another thing... in future i'm planning on running a second amplifier and hence planning on running another big fat power cable... would you be able to fit two fat power cables through, not only in the sense of the rubber grommet but where it drops out in the car cabin is that hole it comes through large enough to accomodate two big fat power wires?

Tell me what y'all know or think. Thanks!

[dephilile]

If it’s anything like the rubber plug that was in my VT, I don’t think you will have much luck drilling it out and making a grommet. The drill will go through it no problems but because it is so soft it won’t actually drill it if you know what I mean. It will just punch a hole through it.

You can pick up proper grommets from any wholesale electrical place (ideal electrical). You can probably also pick them up from bunnings.

For a home made one you can use a bit of garden hose held in position with silicon.

Get one big fat cable if you can and run it to a distribution block instead of two cables

[MoSkA]

Is there a problem drilling through the firewall?
I should have asked this question a long time ago, I've drilled through 3 or 4 different firewalls around the drivers footwell and soon enough I would have done it again........

[matrix]

you wont need to drill through the fire wall, thats what the clutch grommets for.
try using a dowelling bit (for timber) , it will cut a hole in the rubber no worries.

[mouce]

@MoSkA

Yes there is a problem with drilling through your firewall. It makes the car unroadworthy. And you can be defected for it.

[nick88]

bryce, i found a grommett behind the brake booster in my car, and the wire came down in behind the fuse pannel, worked out pretty good.
as for the second wire, just run a bigger cable, eg. 4ga or even 2ga from the battery, then into a distrobution block, and have 8ga wire from that to the amps, that will be the easiest and best way to do it.

Nick

[Brycestro]

Ok, found a suitable distribution block here:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-FUSED-DIS...QQcmdZViewItem
Ok, now i'm trying to track down suitable cable for the job... I'm going to be running my front and rear speakers off of a 6 gauge 600 watt power cable but then i'm thinking i'm going to need something heavy duty for the subs. I'm looking at 2 Fusion Jonah Lomu 12" subs which put out 650wrms each and 1300w max each... So would it be fair to say that for the subs alone i'll be wanting them to be run off of a cable that can support around 1300 watts (2x650wrms)??? And if you were to take into account that the other power cable is 600 watts then i should be looking for a cable to run from the battery to the distribution block input that can support about 2000 watts (1300 + 600 + 100 leway = 2000 watts)??? Does this all sound right to you's?

P.S. - Does anyone know somewhere good that i could track down power cables of like 2 and 0 gauge, because i can't find it anywhere in Mackay. Had a look on Jaycar, didn't find any but i could have missed something. If anybody could link me/tell me where they got there's from that'd be great.

Thanks all!

[mouce]

Go down to your local BOC Gas and Gear shop, and ask them about their earthing cables for arc welders. That's where I got my power cable, it works out to be about 1ga (it's a 50mm2 cross section).

Works out nice a cheap compared to the 'proper' car audio power cable, and it's normally a bit easier to work with because it's a tad more flexible owing to the slightly thinner cores.

[Brycestro]

Don't have a local BOC gas and gear anywhere, however i have found a good aussie source on the net for heavy duty cable or pretty much cables in general. http://www.crazycables.com.au/
They sell 0 AWG by the metre. I'd say that's probably where i'll be getting mine from.

[mouce]

Shame you don't have a BOC shop handy though. Lots of good stuff.