Advice needed wiring a 5 channel amplifier
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 884

Whats up guys,
Any recommendations on what brand 4ga wire, speaker wires and RCAs to use to install an amp on my boat or can I get away with using a good car amp wiring kit?
Any recommendations on what brand 4ga wire, speaker wires and RCAs to use to install an amp on my boat or can I get away with using a good car amp wiring kit?
#2
Senior Member







Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: S Fla
Posts: 23,401

properly sprayed with corrosion guard and di electric grease on the terminals, I have no problem with an amp wiring kit. I 'm sure others will disagree....
I use 16-2 shielded for speaker runs..shielding not necessary but I like it...
monster or equiv for RCA cables..
I use 16-2 shielded for speaker runs..shielding not necessary but I like it...
monster or equiv for RCA cables..
#3
Admirals Club 

Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,202

Not to hijack but this question is related. If your amp is in the CC and the battery is in the stern, would you run a hot and a ground wire from the battery or would you just run a single positive and pick up the ground from somewhere else like the terminal strip in the CC?
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 884

Thanks alot...any recommendations on a good brand breaker?
#5
Senior Member







Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: S Fla
Posts: 23,401

Not to hijack but this question is related. If your amp is in the CC and the battery is in the stern, would you run a hot and a ground wire from the battery or would you just run a single positive and pick up the ground from somewhere else like the terminal strip in the CC?
#6

You can use a standard amp wiring kit, BUT make sure it is from a reputable manufacturer and is american wire gauge AWG. A lot of the cheaper amp kits will have power wire with aluminum core or will be sized by the jacket and not the actual wire. Use monster, stinger, jl, rockford fosgate, and any other reputable manufacturer and you will be fine. Stinger makes a nice marine circuit breaker too.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Bunnell Fl.
Posts: 1,363

You can use a standard amp wiring kit, BUT make sure it is from a reputable manufacturer and is american wire gauge AWG. A lot of the cheaper amp kits will have power wire with aluminum core or will be sized by the jacket and not the actual wire. Use monster, stinger, jl, rockford fosgate, and any other reputable manufacturer and you will be fine. Stinger makes a nice marine circuit breaker too.

#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 884

I dont know what the ABYC guidelines are but i know to keep the breaker as close as possible to the battery
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Satellite Beach, FL
Posts: 168

If you have a battery switch, should the positive connection go to the battery terminal or the switch terminal? The battery switch is a BEP cluster with isolation connected to two Optima D31 batteries.
Last edited by Phlorida; 02-18-2012 at 08:05 AM.
#14
Admirals Club 

Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Chesapeake
Posts: 572

The positive lead from the amplifier should go to a fuse, then the battery switch (so you can shut off that circuit via the battery switch)
per ABYC - The fuse should be withing 7" of the source of power(supply)
per ABYC - The negative should go to the "engine ground or its Buss"
per ABYC - The fuse should be withing 7" of the source of power(supply)
per ABYC - The negative should go to the "engine ground or its Buss"
#15
Admirals Club 

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: 'Questa, FL
Posts: 3,060

Can't go wrong with KnuKonceptz.
Strange name but a very nice product while keeping pries relatively low.
Strange name but a very nice product while keeping pries relatively low.