9
Some words about Power and Ground
Note: The second most common cause of underperforming amplifiers is insufficient power current or a pour
power connection. The most common cause of underperforming amplifiers is insufficient ground current or a
bad ground connection.
12-volt current: Battery Power works only if it travels in a complete circuit from the battery
positive terminal to the battery negative terminal. Main power input, of course, is attached
to the battery positive terminal. Ground current is returned to the battery through the
chassis to the to the point where the battery is grounded.
The current available for your amplifier to use to produce power will be restricted by the
smallest gauge of wire in the circuit and by the weakest physical connection in the circuit.
Wire Size
It's often surprising how many people will obsess about signal wire but routinely provide
the amplifier with only a fraction of the current it needs to do its job. The most common
wire gauge used in car audio is 10-gauge, and the most common location for amplifiers
is in the trunk.
Wire Sizing Chart
4 ft
7 ft
10 ft
13 ft
16 ft
19 ft
22 ft 28 ft
0-20 amps
14
12
12
10
10
8
8
8
20-35 amps
12
10
8
8
6
6
6
4
35-50 amps
10
8
8
6
6
4
4
4
50-60 amps
8
8
6
4
4
4
4
2
65-85 amps
6
6
4
4
2
2
2
0
85 -105amps
6
6
4
2
2
2
2
0
105-125 amps
4
4
4
2
2
0
0
0
125-150 amps
2
2
2
2
0
0
0
0
Let's look at a fairly small system. If you use a 50 watt/ch amp (25 amps) for the highs
and a 100 watt/ch amp (40 amps) for the woofers, you need at least a 4-gauge and maybe
a 2-Guage wire to provide 65 amps at the trunk. Anything less and your car won't go
boom. It'll just go Blap!
Length of Run
Summary of Contents for Z-150.2 AP
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Page 24: ...1 Modesto California USA Since 1974 zapco com...
