Wiring up a system for CHEAP!!! A reasonable answer, possibly?

[anthonyalan]

I am studying to be in the electrical field, and I FEEL that most all wire is pretty much the same(other than temperature and amperage rating). So, in an effort to save money, is it unheard of, or highly UNRECOMMENDED to use residential or commerical wire from an electrical supply house to wire up your amp for a car audio system?

What is everyone's thought on this?? Let me know, I think I might be using some 4 AWG THHN wire to hook up a friend's amp in an effort to save her some money if it would be safe.

In the National Electrical Code, a big red book with EVERY electrical code(it is not a wiring installation guide, but a guide to safety), automobiles are NOT applied. So I am kind of shady about using the properly rated wire, even though I would feel SAFER using residential wire that is designed to handle higher temps and amperage, and I FEEL that the "consumer" electrical wiring for car audio is not of better...or even the same...quality.

Not only would I like to know if this type of wiring could be applied, but I would like to know EVERYONE'S thoughts on this idea.

[PlayStation3]

you can i belive if you use the right guage wire size. but most residential wire is soild or close to it so it does not want to bend.

[anthonyalan]

Yes, most residential wiring is solid, but commercial wiring that is used in factories for large amperage loads can come in either stranded, or solid that are put into electrical piping. There are tens of hundreds of different types of wire(water proof, weather proof, corrosive proof, different temperature ratings, amperage ratings, etc.) THHN is a stranded commerical wire that I think would work best for this application.

If anyone else has any thoughts let me know, I've been wondering about using this wire to save me money for a long time now, but was just kind of skeptical about it.

[doberman_52]

I have 10 gauge residential wiring for my amps power and ground wires in my car, works fine.

[bjboertje]

10 guage? are you trying to catch your car on fire?

i think the commercial wiring would be fine as long as you used the proper guage wire.

[anthonyalan]

10 GAUGE?! I hope you meant 1/0 gauge. That much amperage flowing though that small of wire is going to burn something up...

[doberman_52]

Yes, 10 gauge. It's been like it for a while and Ive never had a problem. How would it start a fire? Only a bit smaller than 8, which most people I know use. I think a friend used 14 gauge for a while, but now uses 8.

[PlayStation3]

Originally Posted by doberman_52

Yes, 10 gauge. It's been like it for a while and Ive never had a problem. How would it start a fire? Only a bit smaller than 8, which most people I know use. I think a friend used 14 gauge for a while, but now uses 8.

my advice is to get new freinds that know about heating problems that d/c current has plus the current.i install everything for my freinds and none of them have anything smaller then 5 guage (scosche) and none of them have more then 500 rms watts but they have coupes so it sounds better and louder.

[doberman_52]

How much amps would be going through it at 12 volts? I guess I'm not to sure on wires and stuff, Stock power and ground for the HU is 16 I think, I have 14 going to all my speakers and subs, 16 for my remote, and 10 for power and ground for the amp. Nothing has melted or anything yet in 6 months, and I'm only gonna have this car for about another 2 maaybe 3 months most. then i will remove all components, and put them in my new car and do better wiring. 14 all round except for power and ground to amp, that I'll do 8. I tink most of my wiring is made by sosche, except for the 10 which is from an electrician for a house.

[PlayStation3]

here is a question for you. are you the type of person that thinks volts kill you or amperage?.

also how much rms watts are you using. the reason why factory wiring is around the 16 guage size is that 18 rms is not much plus it is fused everywhere possable. like my radio is fused in 3 spots.

[doberman_52]

Amps. It's around 0.05 or 0.5 amps I think? I know a little about electricity, but not a lot. I can wire a house if needed, but don't know much about the concept and properties of electricity. I still have some problems with ohms law, although not as much anymore, volts and amps I dont know much about.

[PaulD]

wire is wire ..... a certain gauge refers to a corresponding wire cross section, that can be one solid wire or many strands but the total cross-sectional area will be the same if the gauge is the same. As stated above, solid core is not as flexible but mutli-strand will be bigger around.

Why would you fuse something in 3 different places ? The only reason for two places on an amp is if you compete in an org like MECA that classes you by fuse size along with cone area.

Ohms law is easy enough, it just states that the volts is equal to the current times the resistance - written as V = I X R. Power is equal to volts times current - P = V X I .... doing some substitution P = V^2/R = I^2*R. If you use the "water" method for electricity, Voltage is the water pressure and current is the flow (gals/min or whatever). If I squeeze the hose, on the other side from the faucet the flow will be constant but the pressure will be greatly reduced .... this is what a resistor does.

[PlayStation3]

it can from the factory like that.

[anthonyalan]

I was going to answer...but PaulD pretty much covered it all. heh, this thread has taught me how much I've really learned since I started Ranken Tech. in St. Louis in august...

[PaulD]

and most people use arc welding cable from the hardware store for bigger power wires.... it's thinner, cheaper and designed to be able to withstand the weather