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Wire/Fuse Guide


Guest SyKo13

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Keep in mind that length is a factor here as well.  If you're doing a long run (>20 feet), you should use one size larger.  It doesn't hurt to use a wire size that's larger than necessary, but it will usually cost more and can be more difficult to install.

Power Wire:

10 gauge: ~35 amperes

Class D (~70% efficiency) - <350 watts

Class A/B (~50% efficiency) - <250 watts

8 gauge: ~55 amperes

Class D (~70% efficiency) - <550 watts

Class A/B (~50% efficiency) - <400 watts

6 gauge: ~87 amperes

Class D (~70% efficiency) - <875 watts

Class A/B (~50% efficiency) - <625 watts

4 gauge: ~140 amperes

Class D (~70% efficiency) - <1400 watts

Class A/B (~50% efficiency) - <1000 watts

2 gauge: ~220 amperes

Class D (~70% efficiency) - <2200 watts

Class A/B (~50% efficiency) - <1500 watts

1/0 gauge: ~350 amperes

Class D (~70% efficiency) - <3500 watts

Class A/B (~50% efficiency) - <2500 watts

2/0 gauge: ~440 amperes

Class D (~70% efficiency) - <4400 watts

Class A/B (~50% efficiency) - <3000 watts

4/0 gauge: ~700 amperes

Class D (~70% efficiency) - <7000 watts

Class A/B (~50% efficiency) - <5000 watts

Speaker wire:

22 gauge: ~2.2 amperes

8 ohms - <36 watts

6 ohms - <27 watts

4 ohms - <18 watts

3 ohms - <13.5 watts

2 ohms - <9 watts

1 ohm - <4.5 watts

20 gauge: ~3.4 amperes

8 ohms - <96 watts

6 ohms - <72 watts

4 ohms - <48 watts

3 ohms - <36 watts

2 ohms - <24 watts

1 ohm - <12 watts

18 gauge: ~5.5 amperes

8 ohms - <240 watts

6 ohms - <180 watts

4 ohms - <120 watts

3 ohms - <90 watts

2 ohms - <60 watts

1 ohm - <30 watts

16 gauge: ~8.7 amperes

8 ohms - <600 watts

6 ohms - <450 watts

4 ohms - <300 watts

3 ohms - <225 watts

2 ohms - <150 watts

1 ohm - <75 watts

14 gauge: ~13.7 amperes

8 ohms - <1500 watts

6 ohms - <1125 watts

4 ohms - <750 watts

3 ohms - <563 watts

2 ohms - <375 watts

1 ohm - <188 watts

12 gauge: ~21.8 amperes

8 ohms - <3800 watts

6 ohms - <2850 watts

4 ohms - <1900 watts

3 ohms - <1425 watts

2 ohms - <950 watts

1 ohm - <475 watts

10 gauge: ~34.6 amperes

8 ohms - <9600 watts

6 ohms - <7200 watts

4 ohms - <4800 watts

3 ohms - <3600 watts

2 ohms - <2400 watts

1 ohm - <1200 watts

8 gauge: ~55 amperes

8 ohms - <24000 watts

6 ohms - <18000 watts

4 ohms - <12000 watts

3 ohms - <9000 watts

2 ohms - <6000 watts

1 ohm - <3000 watts

Maximum Fuse Size

00 awg  400 amps

0 awg  325 amps

1 awg  250 amps

2 awg  200 amps

4 awg  125 amps

6 awg  80 amps

8 awg  50 amps

10 awg  30 amps

12 awg  20 amps

14 awg  15 amps

16 awg  7.5 amps

These are the recommended maximum fuse ratings for the corresponding wire size. Using a smaller fuse than what's recommended here will be perfectly safe.

Hope this makes sense.

Taken with permission from JMAC @ www.caraudio.com

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  • 3 months later...
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well it could be and probably is.... your fuse size near the battery should be optimized for the wire size to prevent a fire then another one closer to the amp (or built in if applicable) to protect the amp itself. Anyway im not 100% sure on the number for 2g but 300a seems high. my 2/0 (59## strands) is supposed to hold max 400a so

J. Jsig_253411.jpgMy CardomainFINISHED COBALT SS/SC DUAL ALTERNATOR PICS icon_nuts.gif

theres no such thing as too expensive when it comes to upgrades like that, because imo if you are gonna spend to upgrade then do it correctly rather then be a cheap ass ricer
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well it could be and probably is.... your fuse size near the battery should be optimized for the wire size to prevent a fire then another one closer to the amp (or built in if applicable) to protect the amp itself. Anyway im not 100% sure on the number for 2g but 300a seems high. my 2/0 (59## strands) is supposed to hold max 400a so

i don't have a fuse near the battery only one in the back close to the amp.. should i change my fuse and get a fuse near the battery and make them 200a ? or both 100a = 200a ?

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Guest MegaloManiac

i don't have a fuse near the battery only one in the back close to the amp.. should i change my fuse and get a fuse near the battery and make them 200a ? or both 100a = 200a ?

You want your wire fuse as close as possible to the power source eg. Battery.

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I would use a 200 up front and a 200/150/100 one of the three in the back of the three the 150 is my choice(but what size fuse does your amp say it needs?) I use a 120 under my hood and have a fused d block in the back with the proper fuse for each of my amps, like the 60 for my 200x2, 30 for my 40x2, 50 for my 100x2 or 400x4

RF Punch 40x2RF Punch 100x2RF Punch 200x2RF Punch 200x2RF Punch 400x4JL Audio 10W7-3"but its only a 200 watt amp tho"

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I would use a 200 up front and a 200/150/100 one of the three in the back of the three the 150 is my choice(but what size fuse does your amp say it needs?) I use a 120 under my hood and have a fused d block in the back with the proper fuse for each of my amps, like the 60 for my 200x2, 30 for my 40x2, 50 for my 100x2 or 400x4

idk.. what ever fuses the orion 2500 has...

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