My new amp arrived today, even though I can't get the truck in the garage to properly install it, I need to get it wired in to make sure it works.

Problem is that the amp manual indicates it needs 4ga pwr/gnd wires (it has two 40a blade fuses), but it only has screw terminal strips (same size as the speaker screw terminal strips) which require 4ga spade terminals (which I don't have right now).

My quandary is... would it be OK to run my 4ga wire into a distribution block (that feeds 4x 8ga from 1x 4ga) and then connect 2x 8ga wires from the block to the amp power/ground??
I have some 8ga spade terminals, but no 4ga. This won't be permanent, only used until I can come up with a couple 4ga spade terminals to use.
I know this isn't ideal, but would the 2x 8ga wires (pwr/gnd) be ok for a short time?

Seems like 8ga is capable of handling around 50amps, so in theory 2x 8ga should handle 80amps.

I'm not too concerned with noise or ground loops (the amp has a subsonic filter & I have RCA noise filters), just as long as it'll be safe.

 

According to this fancy chart provided by the12volt.com you should be fine, if you have a 4awg feed to a block, as long as the distance from the block to the amp is within 4 feet the 8awg should carry that load just fine, using 2 runs if anything would just lessen the strain as opposed to a single wire, and probably keep down on the heat better.

Recommended Power and Ground Cable Sizes

 

Even though this wil work get the replacements as soon as you can.
More connections create more noise.
Also, moisture and dirt create corrosion, bad connections, etc.
Just thinking out loud but to me wait to get the correct parts and do it right the first time.

Luck on the install.

p.s. don’t forget a good ground back to the battery with the same gauge wire as the power feed.
A ground to the body is OK but extra noise CAN, but may not, come through the body of the vehicle.
Another thing I have done and some say it does nothing is to twist up the pwr and ground wires (10 turns per foot), cover them with braided shield covering and ground the covering at the battery end ONLY !

 

Yea it'll work fine. I hooked up my MB Quart 2000 with 6g to make sure it worked. It wasn't connected to a sub or anything so it's not like it was drawing any major power.

 

Cool,

It'll only be connected for maybe a week or so, until I find the proper 4ga terminals.

Nobody nearby (Auto Parts stores, Lowes, etc.) carries anything that will work, so I'm hunting for a deal online. Actually, I have a better selection of terminals in my garage than most of them do.

I hate to do double the work, but I need to test the amp pretty soon in case something is wrong, I can still return it. It won't be that bad, it's just a matter of cutting off an inch of the 4ga ends & crimping/soldering on the terminals.

The 8ga (1 or 2 cables) will only be about 2 or 3 feet long as I have 4ga ran to the amp location already.

Thanks guys

 

Check caraudio.com. People are always selling terminals and stuff on there.

 

I don't see why you need to redo at all. As long as you have the right amount of copper running to the amp, I can't see what difference it makes if it's divided up among one, two or even three wires.

 

Because running 3 wires per terminal is ridiculous and messy. It's easier to run one big wire than 2-3 little ones.

 

The more wires you have the higher spl you get, everyone knows that.. lol

You should check out some local marine supply places, i know i have a surplus unlimited here in daytona, went in there to get some resin one day and found they carry almost every type of connector in existence, i was amazed, if not ebay for the win on connectors.

 

HA!
I thought it was "the more stickers you have the faster it goes".

 

Im pretty sure they both go hand in hand.