running a 250rms amp, sony xplod 800W, to push a 250rms sub, sony xplod 1200W. im using 8G wiring now and the amp heats up, ALOT, its not in direct sunlight, and when it is i try to cover it with a box or something but i still leave room for airflow. I was told and am considering upgrading to 4 -3 guage wiring. The question is does anyone know where i can get the wiring for cheap? i dont feel like buying a new install kit as i dont need all that stuff. Plus the fact that their overpriced doesn't help me. please note im in pickering/toronto.

i tried homedepot but the guy said the wiring they sell there is not meant to be put directly outside, like i thas to by used insde a PVC pipe as the insulation wil be eaten away at, and its not as plyable, so its harder to bend to place.


thanks

 

Grab your phonebook and look up Industrial Supplies, or Welding Supplies. You can buy hi-flex welding cable for about 1/5 of what you would pay at some audio shops.

Not to rag on your gear, but i doubt that upgrading the wire will help cool down the amp much. Just curious, where is the amp mounted? Upgrading your wiring (eh.k.eh. the big 3) can't hurt and certainly will help if you decide to upgrade to more RMS later.

Also skip the 4 awg, and go straight for 0 awg, altough you will probably need a distribution block also to connect to your amp.

 

Princess Auto has install kits and wire, 401 @ Thickson I bought 0 ga welding cable about 1/4 the price of an install shop. I bought 6 ga battery jumper cables (Red/Black zip cord) for the amp side of the distro blocks

Sayal Electronics, Victoria Park, just south of Steeles has 4 ga, speaker wire, RCA cables, etc.. I got 0 ga terminals for .99 each (2 for 10.00 at local install shop) They're only open till noon saturday.

 

go on ebay all the cheapest stuff is there LOL

 

this is hte beginning of me getting into audio, as time goes on, i plan on getting more or better. Right now the amp is in a minivan, located inbetween the two front seats.

i will try ebay and auto princess....

thanks

 

I am assuming that it is also a class AB amp, which tend to run a lot hotter than a class D amp would... you may also consider buying a small 12v fan to force air across the amp.. you may need to try out a few locations for the fan as it may cause some noise to be picked up by the amp... the main thing with electronics... the longer you can keep it cool for the longer you will have it... not to mention a fan will run in under 5 bux...

 

im not sure what the classes are for amps, so please explain AB to me.

thanks

 

doesn't the amp overheat because the wiring is too small. I thought the thoery was thicker wire moves more current, and can handle more load. Therefore in my case, the wire is too thin causing the amp to overheat. Wouldn't uping the wire to say 0 guage for future do it?

 

Without getting into transistor theory, a class AB amp is full frequency range, used for front speakers. They can have filters or crossovers to narrow the freq range. If it's high power, it'll get hot.
Class D, usually called monoblock (one big chip) is for Subs only. It always has a filter for sub frequency only. They normally run cooler than AB for the same amount of power.
Class A is home stereo stuff, lower distortion.

How hot your amp gets has nothing to do with wire. It will Draw as much current as it can for the amount of power it puts out. If your wire is too small, wire will get hot, melt insulation, short out and maybe start a fire.
Big (oversized) wire is the way to go. You don't want any heat or voltage drop in the wire.

 

ok i see your point, so when buying an amp how do i know wut class it is in? is a mono amp class D? and my amp gets quite hot because i cant place my hand on it for too long.