lmike6453

Hey I need to run a 4 gauge wire from my fuse box through the pre-existing hole in the firewall, through the cabin, driver's side, tucked behind kick panel, side panel, under rear seats to where hatch latch is, approximately.

How many feet of wire will I need to do this?
Also, is Pyramid a good brand name for 4 gauge wire?

TIA

j_bizach

when I used to do audio we just took a piece of stirng and ran it through the vehicle like u would the wire and that gives u an exact mesurement then wed just go over to the spool and cut me off wat I needed. if u don't wanna tear all ur car apart just kinda lay it through the car wher its gunna run and add a foot or two and you'll get a good estimate on how much ull need. im not sure about electrical wire.

lmike6453

Damn I thought someone might know off the top of their head lol...worst come to worst I will have to do that tomorrow...

PatrickGSR94

iTrader: (1)

I highly suggest something thicker than 4-ga. wire. I moved the battery to the back in my old 89 Camry with 4-ga., and the 100-amp fuse I had on it started to melt the wire inside after awhile. The starter motor turned rather slowly, as well. I switched to a 150-amp fuse and the starter worked much better.

Larger wire is a PITA, but worth it. Consider that the stock >12" wire from the battery to the fuse box is already about 4-ga. in size. Now run that 15+ feet and it should be obvious that 4-ga. isn't the best idea.

lmike6453

I thought that as well, but according to this chart 4 gauge should be fine...

PatrickGSR94

iTrader: (1)

I dunno man, that starter pulls a TON of power. The main fuse box has a 100-amp fuse on the wire from the battery. If you say 15 feet, notice that the 86-105 amp box says to use 1/0 ga. wire. I don't even know how many amps the starter draws, as the starter doesn't even have a fuse on it. It's just a 4-ga. cable directly from the battery to the starter.

I would definitely use 1/0 at a minimum for battery relocation, if for nothing else but for the battery, just to make sure nothing melts or blows when you try to crank over the engine.

lmike6453

DELETE, especially since I'm using Monster wire that's supposedly 100% copper(better than some cheap crap like Superfat lol).

PatrickGSR94

iTrader: (1)

Monster wire is such a ripoff. Hope you don't pay too much for it.

Just remember that there is no factory fuse on the starter. It's a straight un-fused wire from the battery to the starter. That's why I had problems when I ran 4 ga. in my old car, since I added a fuse on that wire, and then the wire inside the fuse started to melt due to stress from cranking the starter.

lmike6453

I didn't pay that much for it...like $23 including shipping for a 18ft spool of it(4 gauge).

I actually forgot that the starter is unfused LOL...so disregard my above post. It's still in the a.m. and I'm tired.

According to brief researching I just did, people measured their starter in preludes to pull 60-150 amperage depending on weather conditions. I think 4 gauge will do the trick if the wire is true 100% copper from other setups I've read about.