Hey guys, this is my first time posting and I'm pretty new to installing on my own.
I have a couple of questions that I've been struggling with for the last week or so. I have searched the site and the net, but have been unsuccessful in finding an answer.


I currently own two Alpine amps (PDX 1.1000 and PDX 4.150) which total 1600 watts RMS.
They will power 2 sets of 100 watt RMS components (alpine SPX-17PRO 6.5" ) and 1000 watt RMS 12"SUB (alpine SWX-1243D).

I want to have one power wire coming from the battery to a distribution block and then to the amps. So my questions are:


1. What Gauge would you recommend for this wire before and after the distribution block? (alpine reps recommend a 4 gauge before and 6 gauge after, my research tells me this is not enough......I'm confused now, what confuses me more is the fact that the 1000 watt RMS amp manual states to only use 4 or 6 gauge wires)

2. What gauge wire do you recommend for the Ground.

3. should I have a ground going from each amp to the same bolt?

4. what are your recommendations for fuse considering my amps ?(block and fuse amp)

5. What distribution block would you recommend?

6. And finally, what gauge speaker wire would you recommend


I have been looking at the JL audio 0/1 gauge dual amp power wire kit which states it's good for total power between 1400 and 3000+ watts.
Is this overkill? would the 2 gauge set be enough?



Also please let me know if my knowledge about the wiring is correct:

Power from battery + to the fuse (within 10 ") then to distribution block
Splits and goes to the 2 amps
each amp will have a ground
RCA's from HU to amps
Speakerwire from Amp to speakers/Sub


I know I'm asking a lot, but any help clearing this up will be much appreciated.
I'm looking forward to the install, but this confusion is holding me back

Thanks

 

0 gauge for both power and ground and then a distro block for the power and a distro block for the ground.

 

Thanks for the quick reply,

So if I understand correctly, the ground from each amp will go in the distro block then one wire will connect from the distro block to the ground Lug??

this is like the opposite from what a Distro block is supposed to do right?


Also, none of the dual amp kits that i have seen including the Stinger and JL audio, come with 2 distro blocks. They just have one for the power. Please explain

 

correct. no distroblocks distribute power or a voltage, so they can distribute the ground. believe me, many people have this done for both the power and ground (including me)

 

Thanks man.

So would you recommend me to get the JL audio 0/1 gauge dual amp power wire kit and get an additional distro block??

Or do you know of a site where I can get a better product/deal, If so please recommend the parts you would use for the system I described.

Once again, Thanks

 

no, the JL audio kit is crazy overpriced.

www.knukonceptz.com

 

great site, though I must admit I kinda feel overwhelmed by all the items, I do not know what I would need to have a complete kitt as per your recomendation, I know it's a bother, but could you please recommend which items I should get. Especially regarding the fuses and what size( amperage I believe?)

Also would 20 feet of power cable be enough for both amps (10 from battery to distro block, 5 for each amp from the distro)

I value your opinion, as I've noticed your regarded as a pro on the forums.

Thanks

 

its current, amperage doesn't exist.

a run from the batt to the rear will take ~20 ft ish so i would get 20 ft of kolussus blue 0 gauge power and then 5 ft ish of silver 0 gauge, i would just get two standard distroblocks (cheapo ones with 0 gauge inputs and 4 gauge outputs) then i would get 15 feet of both 4 gauge blue power kolussus and then 4 gauge silver kolusses. (BTW BLUE / RED = power , SILVER = ground)

lastly you'll need connectors and some remote wire and speaker wire. i wouldn't get fused distroblocks, as long as you fuse within 18" of the batt then you'll be fine and wont need to run a fused distro

 

so then the 20 ft cable would connect to the distro block, from there I would still have one piece if 15 feet 4 gauge cable(I assume I should cut this so I can power both amps). I would do the same (cutting) for the 4 gauge grounds, which I send to the second distro, then connect to ground bolt

My question remains what do I do with the 0 gauge ground?? where do I connect this?


Also what type of fuse would I need (A)

 

go from the ground distro to the ground bolt.

and yes everything else you said is correct

 

Dude, your the best. thanks

Btw for the 1600 Watt RMS power what fuse type would you recommend me to get?

 

i'd get a 150 amp fuse for the batt

 

I'll try not to ask any more questions .............after this one
I've seen up to 300 amp fuse, would it be better to get the higher or doesn't it matter?

 

if you get too high of a fuse its pointless you want to have something close to what your amps are rated for

i.e. 1600 watts / 12 volts = 133.333 amps .... thus get a 150 that way in case you have a spike you don't feed your amps way to much current. fuses are cheap, so you want it rated for how much you're going to pull or around what you're going to use. having a 300 amp fuse is pointless and is grounds for a fire, 300 amps you might as well not have a fuse

 

ok, so even if I have a 1000 rms watt amp an a 600 rms watt amp for a total of 1600 watt I would still use the 150 amp fuse?

 

right... 1600 rms / 12 volts will be your max current draw which will be ~ 130 but you'll never get to your max even if your amp is all the way turned up