power wire sizes and fuses
 

I will be installing 2 amps next weekend and was wondering...

Alpine MRV-F540 4ch
Alpine MRD-M605 Mono

both have 2 x 30a fuses (so 60a per amp). I will be using a fuse about 20 inches away from the battery and a distribution box in the trunk. I already ran a 4ga power wire from the battery to the trunk and plan to run 2 x 8ga to go to each amp. By the book the 4ch requires 8ga however and the Mono needs either 4 or 8ga.

Questions:

1. I undestand that I need to use 2 x 60amp fuses in the distribution box but what about the one that's close to the battery? what should it be?

2. Are both of these amps will be supplied good enough power by the one 4ga and then two short 8ga wires ? Along with 8ga ground for both.

3. if the book says either or (8 or 4) for the mono, would I be better off with another 4ga from distr. box to the amp or would the 8ga be sufficient?

8g is ususlly rated for 1000-1100 w which is like a 39 - 59ish amp draw. so it may work... untill it melts lol.. the 4 chann alpine is what 600w? and the mono is 600W? so it should be fine. 8g ground for both is right on. 8g runns my 500W rms amp.

the 4ch is 700w max (60w x 4 rms 4ohm) and mono is 900w max (will run at 400w rms at 4 ohm)

Under the hodd use a 100-120 amp ANL fuse. The 8 Gauge for both of those amps are fine as long as its true 8 gauge and not a Chinese rip off wire with thick insulator and not much copper. If you are using a good quality 8 Gauge wire then that is fine. And same goes for your 4 Gauge main if it a good quality your fine. Cheap wiring=Thick Covering and thin on copper

x2. try to fuse the ampacity of the wire rather than the current draw.

http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

the 4 gauge I have says "Pro Audio High Quality Copper OFC 4 guage cable" on it. It's blue and has a fair amount of copper inside, I'd say about 0.5-0.6cm of copper in diameter. Inuslation is not thick at all but I think it's thick enough. I paid about $20 for the 4 guage. Store called A-Z Electronics near Steeles and Dufferin, a few middle eastern looking men are the owners. They got everything you need there for fair prices, most of their stuff is not really high quality and individually packaged but I think it does the trick.

Anyone knows this store? used their products?