How to get 8ga wire into small screw terminals (Soundtream D200)

2861 Views 4 Replies 2 Participants Last post by vageta, Apr 19, 2009

vageta

Discussion Starter · Apr 19, 2009

So I'm plotting out my install and I'm trying to figure out the best way to get my 8 ga power wire connected to my Soundstream D200 amps with these damn screw terminals. As you can see in the pics a 12ga terminal won't even fit in there.

Curious if there are special types of stand-off terminals that will allow an larger wire connection without some sort of tapering of the wire. Ghetto version would be to run 2 smaller 12ga wires from my distro block and connect them both to a single terminal with one on top and one on bottom.

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tomtomjr

· #2 · Apr 19, 2009

The "yellow" terminal is a 10-12ga. Not just a 12ga. 12ga is blue. Measure the opening of the terminal block, and look around for the correct terminal. Don't think you need 8ga for a SS 200 though. 10ga will work fine. Now, if you want to go at it a different route, just fit a 10ga wire into the terminals you have and squeeze the fork a little. Will shrink the fork slightly. Just enough to barely fit. Then remove the yellow nylon and add some shrink. Would look a little nicer too. Then another route is to barely trim the sides of the connector with a bench grinder... Or you can go with the 1st suggestion which is to look around for the correct connection...

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vageta

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 19, 2009

Yes I just got my gauges mixed up. The blue does fit but the wire size is so small. These amps are beasts and it just feels like 10ga or less aren't going them justice. I probably will take off the blue and use some shrink tubing for sure and I have done the squeeze the fork method with luck.

I wasn't necessarily worried about getting the terminal to fit right.. I was more concerned about getting the gauge of wire I wanted to use to fit into that terminal itself. I have 1/0ga to run from my batter to the distro block, seems like such a waste to use 10-12ga to these amps. My guess is a pair of these are going to suck down more power than my Alpine 1.600 class D.

Thanks for the info.

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tomtomjr

· #4 · Apr 19, 2009

vageta said:
Yes I just got my gauges mixed up. The blue does fit but the wire size is so small. These amps are beasts and it just feels like 10ga or less aren't going them justice. I probably will take off the blue and use some shrink tubing for sure and I have done the squeeze the fork method with luck.

I wasn't necessarily worried about getting the terminal to fit right.. I was more concerned about getting the gauge of wire I wanted to use to fit into that terminal itself. I have 1/0ga to run from my batter to the distro block, seems like such a waste to use 10-12ga to these amps. My guess is a pair of these are going to suck down more power than my Alpine 1.600 class D.

Thanks for the info.

Use 10ga, not 12ga. Yellow terminal, not the Blue. And you will be fine. 10ga is good up to 30A. Don't go any smaller, and you will be fine. Being a class A/B, yes, they will suck down some amperage. But if you are using these as mid-high amps, you should be good to go...

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vageta

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 19, 2009

Thanks man I'll go with the 10 and make it easy on myself since as you said they are for mids/highs and won't be sucking as much current.

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