Fuses and Cable Size?

[raZel]

Hey fellas,
Hows it going? I have just one quick question....
I have a 1250W Infinity Sub Running off a Clarion 1000W (i think) Monoblock, and a 600W 4-Channel amp for my speakers.....

I just wanted to know, what kind of cables should i run, and what fuses??

Currently i have 1x 4 Gauge cable running to the boot, which gets split into 2x 8 Guage cables, one for the Mono block and one for the 4 Channel. I am running 8 Gauge Ground cables which are both separate and running from separate locations. I have a 40Amp fuse which runs off the 4 Gauge, around a foot away from the battery.
Is this ok, or should i be looking for more/different cables?

Cheers,
raZel

[Haydz]

sounds all good to me.

[kopper69]

So its working as is?

[raZel]

Yeah man, everything works fine... no problems whats so ever, only if i turn it up really loud the fuse blows, but nothing else is wrong, i was just making sure i had the correct amount of power going to everthing, with the correct cables and making sure that i have the correct amp fuses in place...

Cheers
raZel

[Phreddy]

Hey raZel.

I'd actually go with a higher rated fuse. I think your wiring is OK gauge-wise, it's just that for sustained high volume stuff the you'll be pulling 40 amps or more so that fuse blowing under those conditions would be normal. Try a 60 or 80 amp fuse, and just make certain all your connection are secure.



EDIT: I run a 50Wx4 and a 80Wx2 amp (RMS power), and use 4ga with a 80A fuse for the main feed.

[bezz]

i agree go for a higher rated fuse. For 4ga I wouldn't go any higher than 120 amp. Also, are you running a fused distro block? If not id recommend running an inline fuse on each 8ga as close to the distro as possible. Finally, try and run the main fuse as close to the battery terminal as possible, I have mine about 15 cm away. Its best to have as much of your power cabling fused as possible!

I'm running 4ga fused at 120A at the battery, to 2x8ga, each fused with 40A to 60A. From there I'm running 4x50w rms and 1x500w rms (around 50 and 40A max current draw respectively).

[roon_VR]

when i upgraded from an 8 gauge to a 4 gauge power cable for my response precision 2x150 watt RMS, i had a 40 amp fuse attached. When i turned it up, it blew. But i upgraded to a 60 amp fuse and everything is sweet!

[raZel]

Hey raZel.

I'd actually go with a higher rated fuse. I think your wiring is OK gauge-wise, it's just that for sustained high volume stuff the you'll be pulling 40 amps or more so that fuse blowing under those conditions would be normal. Try a 60 or 80 amp fuse, and just make certain all your connection are secure.



EDIT: I run a 50Wx4 and a 80Wx2 amp (RMS power), and use 4ga with a 80A fuse for the main feed.

Sounds good to me mate, i will just get a bigger fuse for the casing near the battery, should i get one of them bigger fuse cases or is that standard one that comes with the 8ga wiring ok?

i agree go for a higher rated fuse. For 4ga I wouldn't go any higher than 120 amp. Also, are you running a fused distro block? If not id recommend running an inline fuse on each 8ga as close to the distro as possible. Finally, try and run the main fuse as close to the battery terminal as possible, I have mine about 15 cm away. Its best to have as much of your power cabling fused as possible!

I'm running 4ga fused at 120A at the battery, to 2x8ga, each fused with 40A to 60A. From there I'm running 4x50w rms and 1x500w rms (around 50 and 40A max current draw respectively).

My first fuse is fairly close the battery no more than 10-15 cm, but no, my dissy block isn't fused, i will get 2 more cassings and chuck em behind the block.

Thanks fellas, i will keep you posted.

Cheers
raZel

[Joe Peeps]

keep your front fuse to 60-80 as Phreddy suggests and you wont need to fuse your 8 gauge runs.

[raZel]

Thanks for all your comments, i have just put a 60amp Fuse in the front .... I will let you guys know if i have anymore problems.

Cheers
raZel

[VSIIBerlinaL67]

im just about to go threw the same thing. i have 4 gauge cable from battery with 100amp fuse gets to the back and splits and fused again with 40amp fuses, still with the 4 gauge cable to both amps 4x50wrms and soon to be 1x500wrms is this going to be alrite for this setup or should i change the 40amp fuse for the bigger amp to 60amp??? any other tips of suggestions would be great .
thanks

[bezz]

If you already have 40A fuses you may aswell give them a try. I would guess that the max current draw of the mono would be around 40A and the 4x50 slightly higher, however I doubt they would hardly ever hit that anyway.

Anyway, give them a try and see how you go. Worst case scenario you'll blow some fuses

[Heffer_Slayer]

Hmmm.
At the moment i am running 8 gauge from the battery >_>
Which is powering;
2x90wrms amp bridged at 180wrms which powers my 12inch 200wrms sub
4x50wrms bridged at 2x130wrms. Powers my Alpine type R's which are rated at 110wrms.

Is the setup ok for my splits? (type R's)

I want to upgrade my current system, should i change my cable to 4 or 2 gauge?

I am going to get a response 2x150wrms and bridge it to run a more powerful sub.

I am not sure what my current fuse is rated at, it came with the "Fusion 400watt Bass Pack" Hence why i wanna upgrade :P
Just not enough bark in it.

Any comments on that would be much appreciated
Thanks!

[Phreddy]

Hey Heffer.

Mmmm, really I think that you're pushing the limits if you're running 8 ga from the battery. You might even be getting a bit of voltage drop, which won't be doing your amps any favours.

I would go 4 ga from the battery - 2 ga might be a bit of overkill, but in my opinion you need to go up from 8 ga. A 4 ga main feed, and 8 ga to each amp from the distribution block would be sweet. I'd go with a 80A main fuse, or maybe 100A if it blows at high levels.

Cheerz, best of luck.

[Heffer_Slayer]

So you think 4gauge for the NEW setup would be ok?

[Phreddy]

I reckon so mate - from memory, 4 ga is good for 150A continuous. You shouldn't be pulling that, unless there's something terribly wrong...

By the way - all going OK raZel??

[Heffer_Slayer]

Acording to this apparantly i need 1/0 gauge cable :|

DataFileHost

Its the Audio-Calc Excel file.

I mean my total RMS is well

2x130wrms + 500wrms = 760wrms

Isn't a Car battery 12.6? Well anyway im not sure what cable i need!!
I just got a good deal on a 2x150wrms amp for my new sub so i wanna get some cable and hook it all up tomorrow!

Then again acording to this site, i should be ok...
Recommended Power and Ground Cable Sizes

[Heffer_Slayer]

By the way as well as the question above,
If i have a 500wrms amp and i have say a 400wrms sub. Am i going to kill the sub by running the amp? Dont the gains adjust the voltage going through them?

Because if thats not the case i am gonna get worried about my Alpine Type R's.

They are rated at 110wrms and my amp is bridged at 130wrms. Dont want to damage my speakers!

[garfa]

heffer: its you that will do the damage. just make sure you dont turn it up past distorsion and you wil be fine. but its stuff all really, 100wrms and 20wrms., dont worry.

also whats the sort of current that will melt the insulation on 8ga? remember that the main fuse needs to be rated to the lowest power rating.
eg: not much point in even having a 300A fuse on 00ga and then split it to 8ga. if the 8ga shorts the cable will catch fire and the fuse will not pop.

[Heffer_Slayer]

8 gauge i know is not right for the new amp and sub i am gonna put in, probebly isn't even right atm.
But i am asking if i put in 4 gauge cable should i be ok with the system ive posted up?

Or should i go 2 gauge, thats what im confused about.

And if i should change my fuse from my battery because im not sure what fuse i have atm.

[wrx884]

take the fuse out of the holder should b stamped on the fuse itself i rekon 4 gauge would do the job nicely man 2 gauge would b a lil much of a waste considering the price difference

[Heffer_Slayer]

Yea well apparantly jaycar have like 50m of 4 gauge for about $10~.

So Hey thats perfect price! Dunno how much 2 gauge is...

Ill check the fuse tomorrow.

[wrx884]

50m? wow i'll go halves with u we can make some money ahaha i think u ment 5m yeah? remember also 2 change ur ground wire 2 wat eva size power cable u end up goin with.

[Heffer_Slayer]

lol my bad its abour $8 a metre....

Jaycar Electronics

Would this cable be ok? If not where should i look/buy my cable from??

That only says 110A

People were sayin somethin bout 150A?

[wrx884]

cables perfect man i doubt ud blow a 60-80 fuse with the gear ur gettin being 110A cable its more than enough 4 wat u need. Greg was talkin bout the 150A cable b4 he ment thats how much that cable can handle b4 it faults or melts