2 4ga runs or one 2ga with distribution?

3565 Views 26 Replies 13 Participants Last post by v3locity, Apr 3, 2009

v3locity

Discussion Starter · Mar 10, 2009

I'm going from a single amp setup to two Alpine PDX's mounted under the front seats. What are the advantages or disadvantages to doing two separate power wire installs?
With the two 4ga runs I would have 1 Battery terminal, two fuse holders and wire. Each would be grounded to that side's frame rail. If I went to a proper distribution setup I would have to buy 2ga wire, fuse holder, and a fused distribution block.

I won't be expanding to three amps, if anything, I would go back to a single amp setup in the future. The only thing I think I'd have a hard time finding is a batt terminal that will have enough outputs for the factory stuff and the two amps without looking hideous.
TIA DIYMA!

1 - 20 of 27 Posts

simplicityinsound

· #2 · Mar 11, 2009

whenver possible, i would run single large gauge back, and then distribute to the amps.

reasons are plenty.

1. cheaper
2. less chance of a wire being cutt
3. less holes in the firewall
4. easy to do single fuse / CB upfront so you can instantly cut power to everything int he back

there have been cases where i have ran two 4 guage instead of a single 0, mainly beucase hte car has very thin door sill area not conducive to 0.

btw, you should consider just doing a single 0 instead of 2, if you are going wtih a signle run, why not be safe and just do a 0?

v3locity

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 11, 2009

1. I doubt its cheaper. I already have 4ga. All I'd have to buy is maybe 9' of 4ga power. My other amp is already installed where I want it.

2. I'm not really worried about a wire being cut. I ran thru the firewall using a grommet. I don't really see how else that could be an issue other than the firewall.

3. see 2. I took the liberty of using existing holes in the firewall

4. True. I don't see myself having to do that often though. This is a performance car first, audio is important but not a priority. I won't be changing my system around just for the hell of it.

I want the system to be small and lightweight. I liked the fact that the PDX's fit under the seat and use a speaker plug. If i want to take my sub out all I have to do is unplug it from the amp and remove the box, simple and no tools needed!

On a fresh new install I would normally run 0 and a distribution system, I just don't really see how it would be beneficial to me when I already have 4 ga run in the car. Thanks for the input though, maybe there is something else I dont know.

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simplicityinsound

· #4 · Mar 11, 2009

if you made up your mind why did you even ask? I am just giving my advice based on some daily experience.

AWC

· #5 · Mar 11, 2009

what...exactly are you asking if you know the answers and have made your decisions.

dual700

· #6 · Mar 11, 2009

Maybe he just like to argue?

v3locity

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 11, 2009

I'm not saying my opinion is the gospel. That is why I asked. I dont claim to know all the answers or I wouldn't have asked in the first place. Maybe there was something I'm missing. You made good valid points with cut wires and especially only having 1 fuse to cut power to the amps. I'm not being argumentative, I'm just saying what I thought. I wanted to ask and get other people's opinion before I commited to what I thought would work.

braves6117

· #8 · Mar 12, 2009

It will work, but be inefficient. And you WILL regret it later, trust me, I did.

MarkZ

· #9 · Mar 12, 2009

Don't listen to these pretenders. [Especially AWC...he drinks, heavily]

Sounds like you have your mind made up. Go for it. Electrically, it's not going to really matter. There are lots of reasons to choose one over the other for simplicity, but that really comes down to the particular install in question. That's something you probably know more about than us, since you've (presumably) already been digging around in the car and have a plan in place.

Personally, I hate big wire. It's just hard to work with. If I *knew* with certainty that I'd never need to run another wire back there again for more amps, accessories, etc, then I'd probably choose the two smaller wire setup too.

How big are the amps, by the way? 4ga may even be a little on the big side, unless you like overkill (there's nothing wrong with that...).

AWC

· #10 · Mar 12, 2009

MarkZ said:
Don't listen to these pretenders. [Especially AWC...he drinks, heavily]

Sounds like you have your mind made up. Go for it. Electrically, it's not going to really matter. There are lots of reasons to choose one over the other for simplicity, but that really comes down to the particular install in question. That's something you probably know more about than us, since you've (presumably) already been digging around in the car and have a plan in place.

Personally, I hate big wire. It's just hard to work with. If I *knew* with certainty that I'd never need to run another wire back there again for more amps, accessories, etc, then I'd probably choose the two smaller wire setup too.

How big are the amps, by the way? 4ga may even be a little on the big side, unless you like overkill (there's nothing wrong with that...).

I do. Its true.

v3locity

Discussion Starter · #11 · Mar 12, 2009

haha. Thanks for the input guys. I'm using a PDX 1.600 and a PDX 4.100. Each will be mounted under one of the front seats. The 1.600 is under the drivers seat now. It has 4ga already run to it and is ground to the frame rail right at the seatbelt.
The car is a 4dr Integra. I was thinking about power down the frame rails and the rca's down the center of the car.
Why did you regret it Braves?

capnxtreme

· #12 · Mar 12, 2009

Along the lines of what Mark said, you could probably split your 4ga into 2x 8ga and it would be fine, since those amps should be efficient.

v3locity

Discussion Starter · #13 · Mar 12, 2009

You think I could run the 4 to a dist block under one seat and then make the 2 short runs to each amp with 8ga? That could possibly work, the 8ga runs would both be about 3 feet I think. What about the grounds then? would it be better to have a grounding block that they both go to or just run each one to its own frame rail?

If I could find a dist bock that has 4ga in and 4ga out I could even keep the sub amp run with 4ga, its going to need more power than the 4.100 anyway. I still haven't decided what to do with the 4.100 yet anyway. I only need 2 channels since I can't use it to go active.

audiorailroad

· #14 · Mar 12, 2009

I ran a soundstream ref300 and an orion extreme 800 for years with 1 4 gauge supply and never burnt it up. i think you'll be fine with those alps see'in they're more effecient.

mrkaydro

· #15 · Mar 26, 2009

I would run 2 4ga lines, those amps are effecient but better safe than sorry, they also say they wont get hot but my pdx1.1000 gets pretty warm. and if you ever decidr to step up your amps to something like a 1.1000 or a 4.150 you will need that 4ga. I always find it easier to run 2 smaller wires than one huge wire.

Ti.

· #16 · Mar 26, 2009

mrkaydro said:
I would run 2 4ga lines, those amps are effecient but better safe than sorry, they also say they wont get hot but my pdx1.1000 gets pretty warm. and if you ever decidr to step up your amps to something like a 1.1000 or a 4.150 you will need that 4ga. I always find it easier to run 2 smaller wires than one huge wire.

I agree that is a good way to go

v3locity

Discussion Starter · #17 · Mar 27, 2009

I need to order my stuff so I can put the other amp in. Any recommendations on a battery terminal? I think I may go ahead and refresh the wiring for the Alt and ground as well.

mrkaydro

· #18 · Mar 27, 2009

Sounds a little odd but I like using Marine Top Post Battery Terminals, you can get them almost anywhere and they allow you to add on accessories easily. They come with a wing nut which is nice but I replaced it with a nylon locking nut to prevent any problem with the wire disconnecting.

releasedtruth

· #19 · Apr 2, 2009 (Edited)

I'd like to jump in here with a directly related question. I'm also going to the PDX arena and I have 4G run to the existing amp and wondered if I could just split that to 2 4G for a PDX 2.150 (2 15A fuses) and PDX-5 (2 30A fuses). Easier to find a block that goes to 8, of course. If I have it fused at the battery, should I increase that fuse AND put in a fused block or just use a 3-way T adapter for the power, up the battery fuse and call it a day?

mrkaydro

· #20 · Apr 2, 2009

one 4 ga run should support both of those amps, and yes you will need to upgrade your fuse off the battery, but dont go over 90A. The "correct" way to run that set up would be one 4ga and one 8ga. If you happen to blow some fuses or notice that your power wire is getting hot you will want to add an 8ga run at least. one fuse on you power wire is fine, but you could use a fused dist. block. better safe than sorry.

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