I currently have a 500watt amp connected. I want another 1000watt amp to connect for 2' 500 watt subs. Can I use the same power wire for both the 500watt and 1000 watt amps. If so, how can i connect both of them?

 

4 gauge wire should be good enough, if you want bigger you can go down to 0 gauge, which is freakin huge. Make sure the power and ground are the same size. Like Teken said a simple distribution block will work for the seperate amps. You can get them with or without fuses.

 

U need to calculate the total amperes drawn by both amplifiers, check the main fuse for each add together. Though U mentioned the power output, many amplifiers have inflated specs so the advertised power spec may have no relevance....

Once U get the total amperes, consider below:
a. If < 50 amperes, use #8 guage wire
b. If < 75 amperes, use #4 guage wire
c. If < 100 amperes, use #0 guage wire

Also U should use a line fuse located within 18" of the battery connection, and its value should be the total amperes plus another 10%...


[Modified by Sinitro, 4:32 AM 5/28/2002]

 

If ya do 0 gauge have fun routing the wire. Do it under the car cause thatll suck if it shorts out.

I say use a fuse with in 6 " of battery to be safe.

 

yes you can as long as your wires are thick (mines are 4gauge). this reminds me i have my two amps hooked up to a single 15 amp fuse LoL. I couldn't find a damn audio store open one night and jus hooked both up to the one fuse i had left. its been running for atleast a month now. and i got a six channel and mono amp.

 

or...
1) if < 600w, use 8 gauge
2) if < 900w, use 4 gauge
3) if < 1200w, use 0 gauge

 

Don't recommend using the wattage rating of the amplifiers, this will vary depending upon circuit design (analog or digital). Also many brands outright lie about their power specs to sell more units, like a Power Acoustik may be rated at 1200 watts but actually only puts out 150 watts.... maybe

And even then it has NO low frequency capability, if it was actually a 1200 watts amplifier it could draw like 70 amps but only has a 30 amp fuse...


[Modified by Sinitro, 5:00 AM 5/30/2002]

 

I second the fact that you should never use the wattage ratings to determine wire size, becuase like the guy before me just said, people over rate when declaring wattage, but current draw is what determines how big you want the wire. More current = thicker wire

-Rage

 

One thing everyone forgot to mention is that the length of the wire will also determine the gauge of wire used.