Question on ft of wire needed for install.

[Kevin M]

I'm doing a build in my 1998 dodge caravan. Going to be running 5-10k and doing a big three upgrade. (1/0) I'm on excelene's site and I could use some help with an estimation of feet required? Should I do 3 runs of positive and negative front to back? I'm focusing on my electrical first this time and I don't want to run into any deficiency later. I'll be doing a battery bank behind the wall so are the negative runs not required?

I need some experienced people to chime in. Thanks in advance

[Skullz]

Order more than you think you'll need.

When i order i always add a few extra feet for unseen things that add to the length like multiple corners and going from one side of the vehicle to the other along with configuring it in the engine bay around all the objects in your way.

+20 feet per run might get you close but as i said you'll want to know if you are going to cross the vehicle from side to side, and if you can you'll want to use some speaker wire and route it through the engine bay and measure the length it takes so you have a rough idea of what to expect, or you if the length of your wire is long enough you could use it to measure your exact length and add few feet so as not to cause the wire to be tight against anything.

[Kevin M]

So I guess I'm looking at around 150 ft. I'd like to do buss bars on the batts in the back so I just need enough length to terminate the cables there. So are the three negative runs necessary to the back? Is that just a preference type of thing.

[CleanSierra]

Well, you don't have a frame on that vehicle so you'll need to find a solid place to ground. Do you have a digital multimeter? If so, go under the van and measure resistance on different locations underneath. 0.00 is the magic number. Check strut tower bolts as well, just to see if that location would be suitable. I would try to avoid front to rear runs if at all possible.

The excelene is great wire and will carry plenty of current. I'd say 20-22 ft per positive run would probably cover you. As far as grounds, check locations first before accounting for how much wire you'll need. I'm lucky enough to have a full framed truck and use a spot in the rear on the frame as my grounding location.

What sub and amp setup are you planning in this van? Is this a pure competition vehicle?

[Kevin M]

I have a multimeter. I can do that. I will avoid the front to back runs. Looking like 100 ft will be perfect. I'm not going to go crazy but I am thinking of doing two team 18s in a 4th of 4 in a flat wall. I don't have the subs yet so no amp yet either. That was a whole other set of questions I needed to ask. It will be a couple months before I purchase them.