Big 3 questions.
#1
Big 3 questions.
Ok, so I'm thinking I will have to upgrade the big 3, lights dimming, I've searched around for about an hour on here and can't really find the info I'm looking for. I understand the reasoning behind why this should be done.
I'm wondering why I would need 1/0 gauge as everyone always recommends, when my amp is only 300RMS@ohms and only has 4gauge power and ground. Could I not just add 4 gauge wiring on top of my existing wiring? (I have an 06 Mazda6, so I'm thinking I should probably leave my factory wiring in there just in case. The car also still isn't out of warranty.) So would 4 gauge suffice?
I'm also wondering about alternator/battery. The stock alternator is 100amps. Should this suffice with the big 3 upgraded? Should I upgrade my battery? It is stock-ish, but I probably wouldn't replace it until it dies anyways. (Being a student sucks. Money is tight )
I's sure most of you will say to upgrade the big 3 before questioning the alternator and battery topic. I can't find any high amp alternators for my car though. :/
I'm wondering why I would need 1/0 gauge as everyone always recommends, when my amp is only 300RMS@ohms and only has 4gauge power and ground. Could I not just add 4 gauge wiring on top of my existing wiring? (I have an 06 Mazda6, so I'm thinking I should probably leave my factory wiring in there just in case. The car also still isn't out of warranty.) So would 4 gauge suffice?
I'm also wondering about alternator/battery. The stock alternator is 100amps. Should this suffice with the big 3 upgraded? Should I upgrade my battery? It is stock-ish, but I probably wouldn't replace it until it dies anyways. (Being a student sucks. Money is tight )
I's sure most of you will say to upgrade the big 3 before questioning the alternator and battery topic. I can't find any high amp alternators for my car though. :/
#5
MY truck (2 batteries stock) dimmed too, and so did my cavalier when I had them. Does that mean they all had connection problems?
It looks like all my wiring (Big 3 non-upgraded wires) is 8 gauge, and my amp wiring it 4 gauge. Not sure if that makes a difference or not.
It looks like all my wiring (Big 3 non-upgraded wires) is 8 gauge, and my amp wiring it 4 gauge. Not sure if that makes a difference or not.
#6
The reason that most people recommend 0 gauge is because 90% of the people that install car audio systems in their vehicles will continue to upgrade as time goes on. The big 3 can be a lot of work in some vehicles and not something that you would want to do twice, thus is always better to cover any possible upgrades now rather than later.
#8
It looks like all my wiring (Big 3 non-upgraded wires) is 8 gauge, and my amp wiring it 4 gauge. Not sure if that makes a difference or not.
The big three is not a cure all but it does maximize performance
http://www.canadiancaraudio.com/onli...erms-pics.html
http://www.canadiancaraudio.com/onli...-selector.html
^this site tells what size wire is appropriate for your power demands, it is a factor of current draw and distance from the power source (battery/ alternator) and assumes high quality connections
#10
The battery isn't the original.
Actually it might even be 16. the 8 might be the starter wire. I forget now. So I'm basically screwed unless I want to spend $1000 on a battery and alternator then?
Actually it might even be 16. the 8 might be the starter wire. I forget now. So I'm basically screwed unless I want to spend $1000 on a battery and alternator then?
Last edited by Kyle_H; 09-04-2010 at 07:05 PM.