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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.
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.
0-20 amps
20-35 amps
35-50 amps
50-60 amps
65-85 amps
85 -105amps
105-125 amps
125-150 amps
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!
Some words about Power and Ground
Wire Size
Wire Sizing Chart
4 ft
7 ft
14
12
12
10
10
8
8
8
6
6
6
6
4
4
2
2
Length of Run
10 ft 13 ft 16 ft 19 ft 22 ft 28 ft
12
10
10
8
8
6
8
6
6
6
4
4
4
4
2
4
2
2
4
2
2
2
2
0
8
8
8
6
6
4
4
4
4
4
4
2
2
2
0
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
9
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