Wire Situation

[TommyK]

Ok I have a 450 watt amp that has 8 gauge wire terminals. Ill need bout a 10 foot run of wire from the front batt to the trunk. Based on this chart it seems that I would need to use 4 gauge to get full power out of my amp, However it only fits 8 gauge. How should I go about wiring this?

EDIT: Heres the chart I looked at http://www.the12volt.com/info/recwirsz.asp

[bassfiend316]

If it has 8ga terminals, it probably doesn't NEED 4ga. 8 should be fine, but if you want to run 4ga, there are wire reducers that you put on your 4ga and it makes the end an 8ga...I don't understand what I said lol so I'll look for a pic.

edit- 4ga-8ga reducer

It definitely wouldn't HURT to run 4ga, but I've always run whatever the terminals accept, unless it's multiple amps, then I'll run big (1/0 or 4, depending on the job) wire to the back, then a small buss bar with whatever size I need.

[TommyK]

I was thinking grabbing a couple of those but decided they woudnt work because they could possibly cause a short due to the terminals being RIGHT next to each other and they arent insualted at all. Also, the terminals on the amp are the kind were you'd need a spade terminal in order to connect it, its not the kind where you just peel back a bit of insulation and then just put the bare wire in. Do you think Id be better off with just running 8 gauge all the way? And if I do, will the amp still get the power it needs? Id like to get all the power I can

Heres the amp incase you dont get me on the terminals: http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_6470_Alpine+MRP-M450.html