Car Audio Wiring

[Denno]

I need help people. I have just got my amp after 6 weeks of waiting, but I don't have the wiring yet. I read the book that I got with the amp (Alpine MRP-M1000) and it says I should use 1 metre of 4 guage wire MAX, running from a distribution block with 2 gauge wire coming from the battery into the distribution block. This makes it pretty hard to buy a wiring kit that has it all included for me. What I need to know is, is it really that important to use the distribution block with the 2 gauge wire going in, and 1 metre of 4 gauge wire coming out, or can I get away with running 4 gauge wire from the battery straight to the amp, obviously going through the fuse too. This is a pretty powerful amp so I wasn't really sure, hence why I am asking .

For those of you who don't know:
Apling MRP-M1000
1000W RMS x 1 (2Ohm @ 14.4V)
600W RMS x 1 (4Ohm @ 14.4V)

I have 2 4Ohm subs which I will be running in parallel, therefore giving me 2Ohm impedance.

Thanks for any help .

[bezz]

4 gauge from the battery will be fine, you'd only need 2 gauge and a distro if running multiple amps

[TWOJZ]

4 gauge from the battery will be fine, you'd only need 2 gauge and a distro if running multiple amps

I have 0ga running to a single amplifier.

[bezz]

I have 0ga running to a single amplifier.

well done good luck with that

let me reword above: for THIS amplifier 4ga is sufficient

[TWOJZ]

for this amplifier, the smallest I'd use is 4ga

[Denno]

Ok thanks guys, thats make it easier then . I saw at JB's an audio line 4 gauge wiring kit. What do you think this would be like? good? crap? As it's very hard to come across 4 gauge wiring kits (well I have found it hard), where should I go to get good quality stuff?
Thanks for the help so far.

[TWOJZ]

dont buy a kit, just buy the cable and connectors.

[Denno]

oh ok thanks TWOJZ. Just from Jaycar? Thats the only place I can really think that would sell this all individually. Them or Dick Smith, but Jaycar are more auto oriented aren't they?

[TWOJZ]

yeah, Jaycar would have it.

I normally just get black cable, it looks better than red

you may get a wiring kit for cheap, but chances are it'll have things you don't need, or the rca cable will be bad quality.

edit: bugger me, the 4ga cable from Jaycar is now $8.40 a meter! ouch!

you'll need 6 meters total of it too maybe more.

[Denno]

ok sweet, so jaycar will be able to supply me with all the cables needed? Power, ground, RCA etc? and the fuses too..

[TWOJZ]

it might be better just buying this:

NEW AUDIOPIPE 4 GAUGE 2100 WATTS AMPLIFIER WIRING KIT - eBay Accessories, Cables, Audio, Video, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 18-Jun-08 19:14:30 AEST)

should be reasonable quality, and end up cheaper than buying from Jaycar...

[Denno]

ok thanks for the help TWOJZ. I'm going to price how much it will be from jaycar right now. I don't mind if it's a lil bit more expensive, I want a very good sound system in this car. I will post what I work out in a few minutes, and hopefully you can let me know if my choices are good quality wise?

Thanks heaps so far.

[TWOJZ]

it may be worth keeping an eye out for second hand power cable.

I picked up over 10 meters of 0ga cable (in like 5 different length pieces) for $50

i dont think I've got any space 4ga.

also! it may be worth installing the amplifier under one of the front seats, you'll need half as much power cable, and a shorter RCA cable, so a lot less chance of getting induced noise into the rca cable running it the whole way to the back.

[Denno]

Ok heres what I got:

OFC Pro Series RCA Leads Car Audio Lead - 2.5mt $8.95
Jaycar Electronics

RED 4GA OFC Super High Current Power Cable $4.25 x 6 (I'm guessin per metre?)
Jaycar Electronics

Extra Heavy Duty Fig 8 Speaker Cable $1.40 per metre (3 metres)
Jaycar Electronics

Total = 38.65
I must be missing something?

[TWOJZ]

Ok heres what I got:

OFC Pro Series RCA Leads Car Audio Lead - 2.5mt $8.95
Jaycar Electronics

RED 4GA OFC Super High Current Power Cable $4.25 x 6 (I'm guessin per metre?)
Jaycar Electronics

Extra Heavy Duty Fig 8 Speaker Cable $1.40 per metre (3 metres)
Jaycar Electronics

Total = 38.65
I must be missing something?

you're missing a fuse and holder, plus a 2.5 meter cable wont reach

and then there's this...

Jaycar Electronics

its the same part number that you listed! but its $8.40

edit: the problem is, yours are all US dollars get the aussie site ya bum!

[Denno]

well i'm not really missing anything - apart from the fuse - but im looking at the site in US version, bloody hell. lol. Thats why it seems so cheap argh.

[Denno]

lol thanks TWOJZ. If only things were easy!! haha. Anyway, I really appreciate your help mate, I have to take off to work now, but I'll definitely be having a really good look at that eBay item.

Thanks again.

[TWOJZ]

I did up a list from Jaycar, came to like $90, and it didn't work when I came to post it, had all the links to everything as well

[Denno]

Oh damn. Thanks though . Your's only came to $90 you say? My list and came to $134.
Here is what I chose:

WH3064 - DC POWER Cable 4GA OFC Super High Current Power Cable 6 x $8.40 = $50.40


WB1732 - Jumbo Fig.8 Speaker Cable 4 x $3.65 = $14.60


WA1076 - 5mt OFC Pro Series RCA Leads Car Audio Lead 1 x $19.95


SF1995 - Gold AML Wafer Fuses 120 AMP 1 x $9.95


SZ2075 - Inline AML Wafer Fuse Holder 1 x $39.95

Total = $134.85

As you can see, most of the money was spent on the power cable and the fuse holder. Will these wires give me good quality sound? I obviously don't want to go ahead and buy all of this only to find it's crap quality gear.

I found that posting without links make's it work. So you'll have to copy and pate the Cat. No. on the left of each name to see what it exactly is.

Thanks

[TWOJZ]

autobarn have the fuses and holders for cheaper than that. And i went with a 5ag fuse, but it might be too small.

[Denno]

Maybe I should just look at autobarn for all of it? Would the ystock everything? If not, in your personal opinion, have a got some quality stuff chosen from Jaycar? I don't mind parting with a bit of money, just so long as I know it will do my system justice .

[TWOJZ]

cable is cable is cable. If its the same thickness, it will be pretty much the same. However you should be aware of cheap rca cables. Autobarn want like $15 for their 4ga cable.

[Phreddy]

ANL fuses and holders are comparitively expensive, but they are very good quality. I'm not sure if Jaycar are still doing the "Maxi-blade" fuseholders, but they're also quite good without being over-the-top price wise.

A 5AG fuse/holder will suffice, but I've seen a lot of them that are CRAP quality. (thoughts go back to a bloke whose fuseholder had such a bad connection internally that it was getting hot - and I mean hot enough to melt the plastic housing!!) BTW - it's one of these type fuseholders you'll get with a cable kit - and how much is paid for the kit is the best indication of the quality of the components.

That being said though, if you're not baulked by the cost of the ANL fuse and holder, go for it! They are definitely top shelf quality. The other components you'ce spec'd out are perfect.

Cheerz!

[Denno]

Ok looks like I'll be getting the 4ga from jaycar then. Fuses maybe from autobarn. You say look out for cheap RCA's. The one's from jaycar that I put up there ^^, are they cheap?? That's what I have been trying to ask lol.

[Denno]

Cheers Phreddy , just noticed that you put a reply up after I hit the quick reply. Thanks for that. I reckon I'll definitely fork out for the expensive fuse stuff, can't be too safe!

Thanks heaps to TWOJZ aswell, your help is greatly appreciated.