amp install help

[gride300]

i'm about to swap an amp in a friend's boat. i am going to make sure the original installer used the right size wires and fuses so could someone tell me what size is recommended or refer me to an old post.

[crowland]

RE: amp install help

http://www.bcae1.com/

What size amp/amps? There should be a majority of the calculations you will need to figure out for the fusing and wiring sizes from the directories on the right hand side of the BCAE1 website. Check out the fusing and power sections first.

Below was taken from a Kicker manual -

The ground should be connected to the amplifier first
before making any of the other connections. This wire should
be as short as possible (24 inches or less) and connected to a
paint/corrosion free solid metal area of the car’s chassis. Use
the same gauge wire as recommended for the amplifier’s
power connection to the battery. Adding an additional ground
wire between the car battery’s negative post and the car chassis
of this same gauge (or larger) is also recommended.
If you ever need to remove the amp from the vehicle after
it has been installed, the ground wire should be the last wire
disconnected from the amplifier, just the opposite of when
you installed it.

A fuse must be installed within 18 inches of the battery to
protect the power wire feeding your amplifier. This fuse
should be of at least the same value used in the amplifier but
no higher than the capacity of the power wire. See the charts
below for wire size and fusing recommendations.

Less than 10 foot from Power to Amp
8Ga 70 Amps
4Ga 175 Amps
2 Ga 250 Amps
0 Ga 400 Amps

Greater than 10 foot from Power to Amp
8 Ga 40 Amps
4 Ga 90 Amps
2 Ga 150 Amps
0 Ga 200 Amps

[TravisFling]

RE: amp install help

I've been using that site for years. I always thought I was the only one who knew until I came here....
Make sure you ground to the negative of the battery - but you probably knew that, I just thought I should mention since the kicker manual was referring to auto's.
Just remember if the amp actually has two seperate amps in it (seperate controls, and seperate fuses on the amp itself) you don't add the amp rating together. They're each for a seperate amp, so just use the same as a single fuse you can see on the amp, and again, not bigger than what the wire is rated for, otherwise, ain't much point putting one in!!

[AuMDLST]

RE: amp install help

Must be one trusting friend - you wont do any work on your boat but will experiment on the friends.

[gride300]

RE: amp install help

all i have to do is unhook the existing amp and screw in the new one. can anyone tell me what size s.s. screws to use in the factory place that has the wood behind it? otherwise i'll just take one out and go from there. i'm gonna take a look at the wiring, but as far as i know there is no dist. block so it has two power wires. i don't think my buddy wants to spring for the parts or labor so i'm going to probably do it out of pocket and get it done right w/ a distribution block, correct fuses in the correct places, new battery connects and power wire, and anything else that needs replacing. we use his boat more than mine b/c it sits on a lift and mine on a trailer. he really wants it done but is a grad student w/ no extra $. at least it's in mechanical engineering.

[Hollywood]

RE: amp install help

He's a grad student ME and can't swap an amp???

[AuMDLST]

RE: amp install help

Lack of details is killing this thread!
Must be an old boat if it has wood.
I would definitely make sure the screws are shorter than what the geniuses used on your boat.

I'll take a guess at the amp though - the Kicker Warhorse?
Your turn.

[TravisFling]

RE: amp install help

So - just to clarify... You need one fuse 6-12 inches from the battery that's the same size as the one in the amp, if it's a "two amp" amp (kicker 750.4 for example) you don't add the two fuses together, just use one, as long as it's not a bigger fuse than the wire can handle.

[AuMDLST]

RE: amp install help

Travis - If you are referencing the two fuses that the amp has built in when you say do not add them up - you are incorrect. The kicker 700.4 (cannot find 750.4) has two 40 amp internal fuses and requires one 80 amp fuse located within 18" of the battery on the 12v+ cable.

[TravisFling]

RE: amp install help

I'm an idiot and got my math backwards... Maybe I should stick my foot back in my mouth, eh? I don't know what's going on with me, but I just argued with a guy about my speaker cans not having seperate tweeters and then he emails me a picture... OF MY BOAT>... It's been too long a winter.

[Hollywood]

Re: RE: amp install help

I just argued with a guy about my speaker cans not having seperate tweeters and then he emails me a picture... OF MY BOAT.

:mrgreen: Now that is funny

[AuMDLST]

RE: Re: RE: amp install help

Water is up to 72 Degrees in Orlando - Just have to get rid of the 20 mph wind we had this weekend.