posted
When it comes to "trimming" wires down so they fit into a certain connector everyone stop the BullSh!t!!!! go to an electrical wholesaler and get the proper reducing lug that attaches to the cable and then to the amp. These are commonly made of stainless steel, aluminum or copper. 8guage cable can only safely handle about 50amps, period! It doesn't matter if it is a 6 inch long or 30 foot long piece of cable it can only safely handle 50amps. So "scabbing" a piece of 8guage onto a piece of #2 is still only safely rated to handle 50amps. This also means that to be safe you should run a 45amp fuse on a piece of #8 cable, maximum, otherwise what are you gaining? A smoldering pile of rubble that was once your proud ride!
I am asking everyone to stop this "Hack" workman ship. Go to your local electrical wholesaler and from them you can attain a booklet that will tell you the load handling capacity of all the cable's, copper, gold or aluminum. Find out the current draw of your amp. then make a selection.
If you have an amp that draws 100amps your gonna need a cable that can handle 120 amps and a fuse or breaker that if rated for 110amps. Protection is always 10amps less than the cables max, and 10amps more than the amplifier's max power draw.
PS using the proper size cable will now drain your battery more than if you use the inproper size cable.(commom missconseption I've heard among school kids)
Thanx, PB
------------------ M.A.B. MAD ASS BASS SPEED KILLS BUT YOU GET THERE FASTER!
Posts: 510 | From: calgary alta canada | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
Sure you can yank more than 50amps through a 8ga wire, you could yank 500amps through an 8ga wire for about a milisecond. I can't find my book that has all the ratings in it, but I think that #8 is only rated for 50amps. Thats 50 amps for 24h a day/7 days a week/365.25 days a year for life.
------------------ M.A.B. MAD ASS BASS SPEED KILLS BUT YOU GET THERE FASTER!
Posts: 510 | From: calgary alta canada | Registered: Jan 2000
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First of all, almost any current across a wire will cause it to heat up, the amount of heat issued is dependant on the current.. You have to specify an amount of temperature change as "undesireable" first.. Also, as the temperature goes up, the resistance changes, which I will agree is undesireable, but 8 awg, in a 1 foot, or even 10 foot run will carry 50,60 or 70 amperes with only a modicum of heating and loss.
ShadowStar
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HEY! I'm looking for a CHEAP used Clarion Thunderdome.. Hook me up!
Posts: 2578 | From: Somewhere In the Northeast | Registered: May 1999
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posted
I don't think we should be arguing about what an 8 gauge wire will carry for current, the point is, do it right or run the risk of burning your ride! I'm sure there's somewhere on this site where the proper curent ratings for each wire gauge is printed.
------------------ Without Inno there can be no Innovation!
inno73@hotmail.com
Look for Innovative Electronics, coming soon...............
Posts: 490 | From: Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada | Registered: May 1999
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