hey guys,
ok heres the deal. im running some 8 gauge power to my amp and ground. the difference is that it is from HomeDepot and is maybe 25 or so strands. its really stiff stuff and it is copper. this is where my question rests....

How does this wire compare to normal car audio power wire? The strand count difference is pretty big and does this mean that my current wire can withstand more than the normal stuff? It also looks bigger than normal 8guage car audio power wire.

this would really help me out because im going to be upgrading. also i just got my distro block in and am thinking about bumping up the wire, but if i can just get it cheaper at home depot (less than $10 for 25 feet for my 8 gauge) then i would really like to do that.

This could also help out people who are considering putting Aftermarket amps in their cars and want to do it on a budget or just see all the options.

Thank You
MrGone

 

copper is copper.

 

* Higher strand count makes wire more flexible - easier to run.
* Car audio wire is usually oxygen free which makes for less resistance.
* Temperature ratings are something to look at(it gets really hot under the hood (car audio power cables are good to about 60 deg C)
* You can get 8 gauge Stinger power cables for about 60c a foot - which is about $15 for 25 feet or Lghting Audio for 45c a foot - $11 for 25 feet - not a big saving over $10 bux for Home Depot wire

 

well i bought 40 feet, gave 12 of it or so to my friend to wire his truck. but it wasnt so easy to bend.

where is a good place to order wire? also i would like tin coated unless you have other thoughts on that.

is there a difference between brands? like is it really worth it to get stinger?

also RCA cables, im gonna go a head and rewire them too, i only have one set that im going to replace because they are video quality and i want more protection than that. im going to research what Matt93SE did with the microphone wire.

basically im looking to upgrade, but i dont want to spend alot. i am saving up to buy the car from my mom, then again, if i go cheap now, i will probably have to upgrade later.
thanks
MrGone

 

try www.knukonceptz.com , they have a very good selection, good prices, and fast shipping.

 

do twisted wires actually cut out intruding noises? what about the phase change? (i think its called a phase, like running them out of phase 180* or something, Matt93se was talking about it, but i dont think he comes over here as much as he used to)
MrGone

 

I usually got my wire from sounddomain.com - thre are cheaper places but SD is convinient and has good customer service.
Unless you doing some high end stuff pretty much any power wire will do and the difference between brands ususally comes down to aethstetics.

If you going to wire a car I would run a bigger gauge wire (like 4) to the trunk 'cos it'll save you a headache of doing it again when you upgrade/add amp.

Tinned wire would help at contact points but I don't think it really matters for power distribution and you can tin your own ends if you want to.

Now for signal distribution: Twisted pair does cut down on external noise and so does shielding. check out Phoenix Gold Tantrum ARX700(Phase-Correct), Stinger Dream Series or Stinger Hyper Series. Phase correct cables are usually directional.

And then don't run signal parallel to the power (some people fish power down the middle of the car so it doesn't interfere with the signal going to the amp and back to the speakers)

 

I hear you on that. My first system had 10 gauge wire for 1 amp, then I went to 8 gauge wire for 2 amps, then 4 gauge wire for 2 bigger amps, now I've got 2 gauge wire for the 4 amps. You just never think that you're going bigger, then you do...

 

as someone said above, copper is copper. albeit with some differences like OFC, strand count, and the fancy colors

if you are really poor and need to run high current, then get the really thick welding wire.. it's a ***** to bend and is REALLY ugly but it works fine

i also recommend knukoncepts , their wire is just as good if not better than the major brands.. just without the insane markup