URGENT HELP NEEDED NOW!!! AMP info!!!!

[Shady Pioneer]

So I have money now, need to buy and amp and a wiring kit, I know what amp I want:

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/jbl-gto1004e-p-6240.html

Been told that's really good value for money and more than powers the set of components I want and a sub, but what wiring kit do I need? I was thinking this:

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/dynamics-awk10-8awg-p-6480.html

or

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/dynamics-awk20-4awg-p-5576.html

but what's the difference between a 8awg kit and a 4awg kit?

And would it be better to have a kit which is 600watts or 1000watts (like the ones above).

Cheers

[S11EPS]

The difference between the two is the guage of the power/earth wire. The lower the guage the fatter the wire. So the more expensive kit (lower guage) will have a fatter power and earth cable.

The theory being, the fatter the wire the more capable it is of supplying juice to your amplifier/s.

Going back to the point made in yourother thread about amplifiers and headroom, you want to try and avoid installing 'weak links' within your system, which you'll only end up replacing in a matter of months.

You may well get away with using the cheaper, narrower guage kit (you're right on the limit though) but why? You can't need £8 that much. Spend the extra, give yourself a little headroom, allowing an amplifier upgrade utilising the same wiring.

You may need to run a distribution block (which allows you to split a single guage wire and split it into numerous smaller wires) if the amplifier terminals aren't capable of taking a 4awg wire - something to bare in mind.

[Shady Pioneer]

I read the instructions on the JBL amp from their site and they said an 8AWG is recommended?

[S11EPS]

Right, so if you run a 4awg cable its not likely to fit the amplifer terminals then.

If JBL recommend a 8awg cable then the first, cheaper, kit will do the job. But it is at the top of the 'performance envelope' for the kit you've specified (600 watt)

Personally speaking, I only like doing something once; on that basis, if it were me, I would run 4 or even 2awg power and earth wires and sling in a distribution block. From the distribution block you can run an 8awg cable to the amp you have now (and seperately fuse it) and it still leaves you with capacity for adding more kit/sucking more power through the power cable you've installed.

If you upgrade that JBL amp or want to add any more power-hungry kit, you've got to start again right from the battery.

Personal choice dude. If you can spare the extra £30-£40 it'll cost to go up in cables and add a disty block, I'd do it without thinking.

[Shady Pioneer]

Damn...

Well basically this is what it says in their manual:

2Power Input Connectors
• +12V: Connect to the positive terminal of the
vehicle’s battery. 8 AWG wire is recommended.
Install an appropriate fuse holder and fuse (75A
minimum) within 18 inches of the battery. Make
sure the wire is not damaged or pinched during
installation. Install protective grommets when
routing wires through the firewall or other sheet
metal.

The other thing to note is, I wouldn't be upgrading the amp or anything in the future, I'd be keeping everything I've got in their for the next couple of years, or until I change the car, so it's not a big problem for me if you see what I mean.

I've been told to go for an Autoleads kit, so if I go for a 8AWG kit, this one is right?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Autoleads-QAWK8-8G-Car-Amplifier-Wiring-Kit-8-gauge_W0QQitemZ330227131031QQihZ014QQcategoryZ14932QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[lordbigsack]

take a look at the chart at the bottom of here http://www.rbeelectronics.com/wtable.htm for correct cable sizes.  personally I would agree with going as good as you can afford on the cabling.  Even if the cable doesnt fit into the amp should be able to crimp a spade connector on to fit.

cheers

S