How big of a wire should I use for sub install (gage)?

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Feb 4, 2004 | 07:04 AM

blingbling

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How big of a wire should I use for sub install (gage)?

I know little in the arts of car stereo, but I know the stock Suby radio needs a little help. Getting a Kicker 10" CVR (with vented box) installed this weekend powered by a Coustic(?) 240 watt amp. I didn't want everyone to hear me coming, so the stereo place said this would be fine. The same place will install the amp for me, but has two different sized wire kits. The only difference is that it's 12 gage vs 10 gage or 10 gage vs 8 gage or 8 gage vs 6 gage or whatever.
Do I need the bigger gage for the install, or are they just milking me for extra money? I should probably do the grounding mod to help with the juice till I can get a new battery too.

Feb 4, 2004 | 07:15 AM

justgo13

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Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 262

From: va

Car Info: 2003 wrx

Personally I would go with 8 gauge, you don't want ot go with anything smaller because the current draw will create alot of heat in the wire and could melt the insulation and short out.

Feb 4, 2004 | 07:25 AM

blingbling

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At least 8 gage. Got it. Am I gonna see the lights dim everytime I turn on my stereo?

Feb 4, 2004 | 01:27 PM

04blkWRX

Registered User

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 499

From: North NJ

Car Info: Black WRX, stock

Your lights may dim depending on the draw of your amp. It probably won't be a problem.

However, I do not agree that you need 8 gauge wire. Wire gets hot because of its resistance, and when you buy speaker wire its designed to have low resistance...having a speaker wire melt sounds very unlikely to me. Your pushing 240w into 2 ohms (I'm guessing) so that's about 11 amps. You could safely run 11 amps through 18 gauge wire if you wanted to.

Last edited by 04blkWRX; Feb 4, 2004 at 01:31 PM.