ok i am new to the whole AMP, SUBS thing.. all that current draw and those damn Watts.....
if i am running a 1200W bridged to supply 2 10" subs,, the amplifier has a 60AMP fuse..
it'll probably only draw 50 amp at max volume, so if the amp shorts at least the 60 will blow..
is an 80AMP fuse at the battery 2 big???? or should i be going for a 60??
just wanna check!....
is there a problem with going to big? ie will it never blow???will the 4G cable burn first(shouldn't think so).... i thought if it(main power to amp) got shorted out(eek)
i would think the current draw would skyrocket and it would blow for sure?? or would the wire just burn if it shorted?? i dunno......
help!!!

thanks
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94 TS
5Spd Magna
Executive

I go smaller at the battery but thats me.

The fuse at the battery is to protect the wire and your car. The fuse at the amps protects the amps.

Either options will be fine. Just that if you do short something the fuse at the amp will blow before the battery.

I have a 200amp ANL fuse, so no 80amp fuse isnt too big.

I go smaller at the battery but thats me.

The fuse at the battery is to protect the wire and your car. The fuse at the amps protects the amps.

Either options will be fine. Just that if you do short something the fuse at the amp will blow before the battery.


yeh but doesn't it depend where the short is??
EG if the inside of the amp shorts, the amp fuse will go
but say the wire "breaks" (asif) at the front seat.. and shorts to the chassis will it melt or will it blow the fuse??? OMG i SUK at this..

I have a 200amp ANL fuse, so no 80amp fuse isnt too big.

yeh?
how many amps you running?
and whats there total current draw?
have you changed your alternator?

2 amps
~160-170A
No, but the battery pays for it.

2 amps
~160-170A
No, but the battery pays for it.


Crap...
was that worked out on RMS power or peak? i get all these conflicting reports everywhere on the web :(

Depends what gauge wire you are running. If the wire can handle more than the fuse you will be fine. is it 4 gauge or 8 gauge?

You could put a 40 amp fuse there and it still wouldnt blow.

Calculate the max current draw by adding up all the fuses on your amps.

Depends what gauge wire you are running. If the wire can handle more than the fuse you will be fine. is it 4 gauge or 8 gauge?

You could put a 40 amp fuse there and it still wouldnt blow.


4G (heard this can handle about 125-150A) wire.. about 10 feet. of it. same for ground except 2- 3 feet.
it is only the 1 amp.. and they supplied a 4G wiring kit,, maybe they didn't know what they were doing? so it would be a 60A fuse

I go smaller at the battery but thats me.

The fuse at the battery is to protect the wire and your car. The fuse at the amps protects the amps.

Either options will be fine. Just that if you do short something the fuse at the amp will blow before the battery.


Tim and I both Do the Same..

I go About 10 amps lower then the Total Fuses in my Setup..

Think of it this way..
If something does go wrong, the Current only has to travel 30 cm to the First fuse to blow not 2.5 metres..
I would hate to see a 2.5 metre toaster element in my car..

Tim and I both Do the Same..

I go About 10 amps lower then the Total Fuses in my Setup..

Think of it this way..
If something does go wrong, the Current only has to travel 30 cm to the First fuse to blow not 2.5 metres..
I would hate to see a 2.5 metre toaster element in my car..


mmm good point Magnat,, think i might drop down to a 60Amp maybe a 50 even

I cant remember what 4G current capacity is (wheres all you engineers) but the problem arises not when you get a dead short but when you get a fault which draws more than the wire can handle but less than the fuses rated current. That gives you a fire.

As long as the battery end fuse is lower than the current handling capacity of the wire, and the devices it supplies are individualy fused you wont have a drama. (E.G. if the wire handles 100amps then the fuse should be about 80 amps or less) :D

Once again where are all the engineers, what can 4G handle. :rant:

Hmmm... ok so if my 4G can hold 120A which i have been told it can,
then before it gets to that my 80 will blow? YES??
GOOD! then i don't have to go down in size..
i don't care about the amp blowin up,,
i just don't want my car to be a funny yellow and red BURNING colour!

As long as yur amp has its own fuse (and it should), and thats what 4G can handle then yeah 80 amps will protect you from a dead short :D

oh ok no worries,,
so if it shorts i am ok, Yes?
as long as the cable can handle more than the fuse?

oh ok no worries,,
so if it shorts i am ok, Yes?
as long as the cable can handle more than the fuse?


Thats a right gwen. :D

Power & Ground Cable SpecsCable Size

Wire Gauge Current Capacity Amperage (amps)
1/0 350
2 225
4 150
8 100
10 60
12 40
14 25
16 15

i run two 150 amp fuse on 0ga cable.
running one amp