CJ18

My attempt at beating voltage drop. I know I cant beat it, but I can damn sure make sure I have enough reserve to hold my voltage.

All depends what wire you buy. Some brands claim their wire is bigger than it really is. The wire I am using for this test is over sized 1/0.

who the hell are you buying 1/0 CCA from that sells it for 2.31 a foot? Should be about a dollar less than that.... shipped. Basing off of Sky High pricing since that is what I am using to test with. http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/168241-skyhighcaraudio-cable-order-threadupdated-7513/ Knu Konceptz is $87.50 plus shipping per spool and $1.95 plus shipping per foot. If I were to order 16' of CCA from KNU, it would come out to $2.29 per foot shipped.

Happy to do it. Could you explain 1 thing though. Why was there more voltage drop with the single run of CCA?

I guess this guy right here is a dumbass then, silveradogoesbang on here, I did the install has a crescendo 3500 off just HO alt and full length run of power from the alt to amp, no voltage drop oh and he runs it at .7 ohm daily. DIdnt take the H/O alt into consideration. That does change a few things. You actually have power to supply the amp. When I typed that I was thinking more towards the stock alt and maybe an upgraded battery.

Yeah sleep isnt on the top of my to do list right now.

Here is a price comparison also for the wire I am using for these tests. Each wire is 52" long, but for ease of pricing I am going to go with 4' (these are considering power and ground hook ups) 1 run 1/0 cca 14.83v/2987w/13.56v $18.48($2.31 per foot) $12.80($80 per 50' spool) 2 runs 1/0 cca 15.13v/3175w/14.11v $36.96($2.31 per foot) $25.60($80 per 50' spool) 1 run 1/0 ofc 14.95v/3131w/14.02v $29.12($3.64 per foot) $27.52($172 per 50' spool) 1 run 2/0 ofc 14.91v/3274w/14.16v $37.12($4.65 per foot) $36($225 per 50' spool) The single run of 2/0 is the most expensive option, just beating out the dual runs of CCA by $0.18, but it also yielded the best result. Now to the hot topic. 1 run of OFC vs dual runs of CCA. The dual runs of CCA cost $7.84 more than the single run of OFC and yielded only 44w more but at .09v higher than the single run of OFC. Price in red is the wire price per foot. Price in blue is the price if a full spool is bought. If a full spool is purchased, the CCA slightly edges out the OFC, but now you also have to take into consideration that you will need 2 more lugs, AND a set of dual inputs($30). Now that you are having to purchase dual inputs, that make the dual runs of CCA MUCH more expensive than the single run of OFC. So what really is the best option? In my personal opinion, the OFC is the better option. Less runs, less work, and less money overall.

If I find more time I might do it. Also to address testing 20' runs, that to me on a 3.5k is pointless. Never would I run a 3500w amp with just 1 battery in the front. I know there are people that will do it, but I am not going to test something that I would not do. I am not going to risk damaging the equipment just for the sake of a test. A true 3500w amp should be run with at least 1-2 extra batteries in the back and 1/0 wiring front to back.

Based on these numbers, taking wire cost out of the equation and just going wire by wire, I take the single run of SHCA 2/0 OFC all day. It had the lowest amount of voltage drop along with the highest power output.

If I have plenty of extra wire left after I install everything in my truck I may run another test with longer runs. I cant keep cutting off of my spools until I have everything installed.

Starting voltage/certified 1 ohm/ tested voltage Test is done on dc 3.5k Each run of wire is 52" long 1 run 1/0 cca 14.83v/2987w/13.56v 2 runs 1/0 cca 15.13v/3175w/14.11v 1 run 1/0 ofc 14.95v/3131w/14.02v 1 run 2/0 ofc 14.91v/3274w/14.16v If needed, I have video of each test for verification.

How do you pose that I wire up 3 runs of wire when I only have dual inputs.

I will make 3 separate videos this time so you guys dont have to look at the roof of my shop. 1- 1 run 2/0 OFC 2- 1 run 1/0 OFC 3- 1 run 1/0 CCA 4- 2 runs 1/0 CCA

Back to the shop

very little difference? 250 watts on a 3 foot run is BIG IMO. It will more then likely get way worse on a more standard run of 16-20ft. I definitely agree that it will get worse on longer runs. This is why I ALWAYsS recommend a small battery in the back to act as a buffer of sorts. Give the amp a power source close to it to draw from instead of having to draw everything from a battery 20' away.

I will do my best to create exact starting voltage conditions and re run both tests. What I am curious about is the voltage. In all of the other tests I have done using only OFC, all of my voltages have been very similar on back to back tests. I am curious now, I will see what I can do to make this test as legit as possible and give each wire the best possible chance.

OFC held a higher voltage. Test was done using 7 D1400s for a battery bank. I will run the test one more time just to make sure there are no discrepancies.

Run 1 CCA- 3024w @13.48v Run 2 OFC- 3274w @14.33v Run 3 CCA- 3199w @13.96v

I think the CCA did 3,024 at 13.4 volts and the OFC did 3,274 at 14.3? I'm a little buzzed but that's what the numbers looked like to me Watch the end of the video, I went back and tested the CCA again with a higher start voltage.

I did run 3 back to back tests, but that is also why I went back and ran the CCA again just to be sure to make it fair.

Watch the video and you will see. Very very little difference.

Test was done using Sky High 1/0 CCA and OFC. All runs are the exact same length to ensure a fair test.

I am trying to upload a video to youtube now. I just tested the DC 3.5k using CCA and OFC. There was very little difference in power output.