Thread: Upgrading wires

#1 Yes, you could run any gauge you want I believe a 2AWG would support most amps. The thing is most ppl leave the OEM wires in place so the Big 3 wires are redundant. One word of caution I have for you is make sure you don’t go around the ground wire amp meter (maybe only for 04+ model GPs) or your computer will freak.

#2 Wire stripping…ah what? Dude seriously. All joking aside maybe you should get some help on this. And for crimping, the most affordable crimper is a “hammer crimp tool”.

#3 The difference I have noticed is definite increase in voltage/less voltage drop at idle with high electrical load. Off idle, no noticeable difference. Upgrading your wires only gets you a little bit more, you might need a HO alternator.

Good luck.

Strip the wire with a sharp utility knife, being careful not to cut wire strands or yourself. Crimping can be done with your everyday ordinary bench vise, will also hold terminal while you insert wire, and just squeeze the dickens out of it.

What size power and ground wires do you need for an amplifier?

Using thicker power and ground cables will allow your amplifier to draw the juice it needs from the battery more easily.

Before you can decide on the appropriate gauge wire for your installation needs, you need to figure out the current demand of your system. To do that, you must ascertain the approximate current draw (in amperes) of your amplifier (or amplifiers). First, calculate the total power of each amp (multiply the number of channels by the number of RMS watts per channel). If you have multiple amps, add up the total power figures to arrive at a grand total.

Second, double your grand total power figure. And, finally, divide by 13.8 — the result is your system's approximate current draw in amperes. Cross-reference with the cable length (the distance from your battery to the amp mounting location) to determine which gauge of cable you need.

That should help you out with the wire sizing... As for crimping, well, there are a lot of options. Best would be to visit a local Electrical Supply house once you've selected your cable and then get the right tool and tabs for the cable. There are also some nice terminal blocks for batteries too with better connections. How the car operates? You mean will the load of the system have any effect? Well that all depends, Capacitors can be added to help and yeah, HO Alternators for crazy systems are a must. Without specifics, it's all just assumptions.

Originally Posted by ajoliver2010

What do you mean by going around the ground wire amp meter???

There is a little plastic loop that the ground wires run through near the battery. Try to keep the new power wires away from it.

Bolt cutters are for... cutting bolts! sure you can use it, but you'd better get some extra crimps and make sure you have some additional slack on the power cable too, because I am positive you'll cut the crimp through completely the first couple of times. Also, even if you don't cut through completely, you'll be slicing the crimp, generally not a good idea. Get or rent the tool, a CRIMPING tool.

Try HARBOR FREIGHT...
9-1/2" Wire Crimping Tool

Not such a bad investment...

This whole post has totally corn-fused the Big 3 with the actual amp power wiring.

AJ, seriously bolts cutters dude? Why come here and ask advice when you are CLEARLY getting tons of it of Utube.

Cool, I wasn’t going to say anything but I knew someone would suggest some cheesy crimper for AJ. Get that crimper and try crimping a few 2AWG lugs. Then get back to us on how that went for ya.

Originally Posted by cerick08GP

Cool, I wasn’t going to say anything but I knew someone would suggest some cheesy crimper for AJ. Get that crimper and try crimping a few 2AWG lugs. Then get back to us on how that went for ya.

It's ok, and it served as an example, not necessarily the exact tool for the job as he has yet to determine the wire size he'll use.

That cheezy tool works well for the sizes it is intended and for the price can't be beat. I didn't post that this tool would terminate any size cable. I could have posted a hydraulic hy-press if you'd like... if you'd want a termination that would last our lifetimes. lolz...

Personally, I would spend more money and get the terminal blocks with the mechanical lugs for easy terminations and removal if needed.

Nice hammer crimp tools are not expensive, and make extremely secure connections. I believe that has been mentioned.