1 awg - Suficient for Short Runs From Switch to Battery.

[Murphy8166]

Going to re-do the cabeling from Blue Sea Switch to my batteries. In the past I have used 1/0 but have about 10 feet of 1awg. sitting in the garage.

2 batteries in total...battery one goes to spot 1 on switch / battery two goes to spot 2 on switch. One run will be about 2 ft and the other will be about 2ft 8in. My stereo is also wired into my Blue Sea Swtich....I used 1/0 for that (switch to amp board). Max current on amps cumulative is probably around 200 amps.

Can I use the 1 awg that I have or do I need to go and get some 0 awg or 1/0 awg.

Edited May 14, 2013 by Murphy8166

[Earmark Marine]

Murphy,

The issue is the accumulated resistance and the qualifiers are distance times current.

The collective amplifier fusing is not always a good indication of the current draw of music.

By my chart 1-gauge is good for 2000 watts of amplification at 50% efficiency for 24 feet total (12 ft. + & 12 ft. -), or 4000 watts of amplification at 50% efficiency for 12 feet total (6 ft. + & 6 ft. -).

Larger than 1-gauge may not provide a benefit for such a short distance but then the cost of 0-gauge for such a short distance is minimal.

Not to be overlooked and just as important as the wire gauge is the quality of the terminations.

David

[Steve B.]

I think the finer the wire, or essentially more of them, help in flexibility and signal quality too. You may think about solder lugs too. David ?

Steve B.

[Earmark Marine]

I think the finer the wire, or essentially more of them, help in flexibility and signal quality too. You may think about solder lugs too. David ?

Steve B.

I strongly recommend both a crimp and solder with a heatshrink sleeve. I do not like a terminal lug with a solder reservoir where you are solely dependent on solder for connection as solder alone can eventually fracture with a combination of a heavy cable, shock and vibration, plus a fixed termination. With a heavy gauge lug and a solid crimp you get a strong mechanical bind followed by solder to fill all voids and provide a seal against corrosion.

David

[Steve B.]

Ugh, I didn't crimp. Now, I'm going to check those connections at the Perko and starter and such to make sure all is good.

Steve B.

[Murphy8166]

I was soldering, crimping and heat shrinking before soldering, crimping and heat shrinking were cool.