actually you are mistaken... 14 gauge is enough for what im doing... wattage is not an issue for wire size, its the amperage and 14 gauge holds a maximum of 32 amps..... way more than enough to supply for my max of 25 amps on my amplifier..... you guys might wanna get ur facts straight :
http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

either way... i figured out my problem.....

 

ooooooooook

 

I usually go by the crutchfield advisor to be safe.... you have to keep in mind the cable length as well....



Since it's mounted under your seat the wire is probably 6-7' long? At 25 amps at 4-7' long, crutchfield recommends 10 gauge. Crutchfield may be overpriced, but they sure are helpful and smart

This is just a second opinion though, I would recommend upgrading to 10 gauge power and ground. 14 gauge seems like it would be too restrictive for any kind of power application.

 

Also on that crutchfield page, to determine amps:

To determine the approximate current draw (in amperes) of your amplifier (or amplifiers), you must calculate first the total power of each amp (multiply the number of channels by the number of RMS watts per channel). If you have multiple amps, add up the total power figures to arrive at a grand total. Next, double your grand total power figure. Then, divide by 13.8.

Seems pretty accurate, and I believe the 13.8 is just whatever voltage your car typically runs at..... so 13.8 is a safe estimate.

Example, I am installing an infinity 611a at 2ohms = 657 watts x 1

657 x 2 = 1314

1314 / 13.8 = 95ish

Now I go to the trusty chart, power wire will be approx. 16-18' ..... falls in the 4 gauge section.... tada! I orginally planned on using 8 gauge until I went back to my trusty chart.

 

i have 2 amps in my car, the first one is a 900 watt mono for my sup and i have 4 gauge coming straight from the batteryand the power for the amp that i was posting about is a wire that i just screw in with the 4 gauge so it gets power too.... my first amp is getting plenty but my other one may not be getting enough... but either way, the stock scion speakers ( for which i have the amp with the 14 gauge) only handle somewhere around 55 watts right? the amp with the 14 gauge is 4 channels with 225 watts per channel so i really dont need full power anyway..... anyways, i solved the problem and the problem was................ im f**kin stoopid, i switched the power and the ground around (no sh*t huh?) im just glad it didnt fry my amp....... thanks for ur input socal_showdown..... im probably going to change it, i just needed something to came back at all these haters sayin i needed 4 gauge

 

haha you just had a case of the whoopsies! Glad nothing got damaged!

 

yeah.... i think i was just tired.... when i switched them, it was 8 this morning and i had been up all night putting on undercar neons and fixing my system... but it bangs now... i was just ridin down the street and this dude in a caddy looked at me like... well i dunno, it looked like he was jealous thanks for all the input

 

or maybe he wanted to kill you, and steal your car?!

 

i'm running 2 guage in my car. i grounded mine on one of the child seat bracket bolts.

 

by the way.... do you think i would/should need a capacitor?? i have been contemplating that for a long time......

 

Do the big3/ground wiring upgrades first..... if you only need some very minor power at peak times then a cap would work.... otherwise go big and get a yellow top battery.

 

you don't need 4 gauge, but perhaps 10 or even 8 to be safe. Oh and wattage does determine wire size. Watts = Voltage * Current ... so yeah, um...right. What would I know, it's only what I do for a living.

 

SAME HERE. I've been doing system for as long as you first start walking. Im a second Generation installer. I think i know a little about amperage, current flow and wire gauges. If you have a 4 channel amp that giving you 225 watts PER CHANNEL then you go right a head and use 14 gauge wire to power your amp, an see what happens to it.

 

I don't see 0 awg on there.

Or 250 amp current draws.

I do not like that chart

www.bcae1.com/wire.htm > all

 

^^^you are a power hog

 

agree, my chart only applies for practical people, not power hogs

 

On the left side in the rear where the seats are, you will find a spot beneath the panels where multiple ground wires are attached. I just bolted mines in there.

 

I ended up grounding mine on a bolt where the tail lights connect to, seems to work fine

 

Change it...please.

Did that in my Neon...most awful alt. whine EVER.

 

Doesn't seem to have a problem from there, and I can't unbolt those bolts I previously wanted.... ____ is too tight haha

any other easy access bolts in the area?