I need some help from some wiring experts for my Super Secret OMFG It's So Amazing That I Want To Pee Project.

Right now, I just have a fairly basic question, I guess. I just get confused easily with currents and amps so I need some help.

I'm running a 0 AWG wire to the trunk, and from there splitting it to power damn near everything that I have in the car currently, and hopefully everything i'm going to be putting in. I have a fuse inline on the 0 AWG right at the battery.

My question right now is, when I jam this big b**** into the distribution block, should I have each line coming out of it (4 AWG, 8 AWG, couple 12 AWG) fused as well? For examples, I have my LEDs in the speaker vents , my undercar lighting, underseat lighting, and my amp/sub in right now, which i'd like to all be run off that fat 0 AWG cable.

If I should be running a fuse on each one, what size should I have?
Maybe someone knows a good electrical primer I could take a look at. tongue.gif

*There's no free beer, I lied.

 

yes, fuse them. Think about it this way. If you get a short on your LEDs in the speaker panels, that wont blow your 150A fuse for the 0 gauge. Instead the wire will start on fire. Which sucks to replace and hopefully it doesnt spread. Oh, and it smells horrible.

Also, lol i like the hot girlfriend link for your interior. haha

 

What he said ^^. Hot girlfriend included.

I'd like to add that you suck at Dark Pirates too.

 

it just depends on what your hooking up. in the case of those small LED wires its true. but any amp or cap would have its own fuse anyways. so i guess if the power is going to something like that you dont need fuseing but for smaller 12 sources like that one or anything without a fuse, i would add fusing or resisters.

i dont have any fusing after my distribution block but everything that is hooked up has its own fuses so its not a concern for my project. you have to decide what your appliances need, everyone will be a diffrent case.

 

things like this work wonders...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-BLADE-FUS...sspagenameZWDVW

run 0 awg wire to something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/AUDIOPIPE-0-TO-4-GAUGE...1QQcmdZViewItem

which you can shoot two or three 4 gaugers out to amps and use the other one to run wire into the fuse blocks, and then out to all your little things.

 

^best invention ever.

 

I have some blocks that i'm using currently.
I just don't really understand those invisible currents very well. What fuse to use with what current with what gauge of wire.

I don't want to take electronics classes, I just want enough information to DIY safely.
I'm gonna go buy some books. 02.gif

 

1. Record the max wattage rating on each piece of equipment you are installing per line, IE. 1,000,000 Watt max amplifier.. 40W neon sign on top of the car... You can aproximate .25W per LED if you do them in series on the LEDs...

2. Add all the max values together

3. Divide by 14.6V (max tiburon voltage)

4. Multiply by 1.1, to add 10% for margin of error

5. Find a fuse near that value. Lower is better.


So say you have a amplifier (1,000W max), undercar lighting(40W max), and 5 series LEDs (1.25W max)

that comes to 1,041.25W of power
Divide by 14.6v to get amperage = 71.3
Add about 10% for margin of error = 78.43

Obviously they won't have that exact value, so try to find a 75A fuse. If you cannot find one, then find a 70 and try it out. If the 70A blows from normal operation, then try to find the 75A fuse again. You might need to settle for a 80A fuse.

If you cannot find the "max wattage" by reading on the box, manufacturer's label, or literature, then just use the value of the fuse on the electronic device. That will give you fuse max Amps.
If you want to find watts from amps then multiply 14.6 X (amp value). Volts X Amps = Watts.
If you want to find amps from watts then divide Watts / 14.6. Watts/Volts = Amps
If you want to find max volts, it's 14.6 always.
If you want to find who is the sexiest mo-fo on this message board, click here!
If you want to make a call, please hang up and try again.

If you want, go ahead and post how you plan on running your devices, along with fuse Amps, or known wattages. Do it in MS Paint if you like. I'll tell you where you need fuses and values needed.

Oh yeah, don't get confused between RMS and Max values on an amplifier. Max = the ammount of power it could possibly use and that's what we are fusing for. RMS = power the amplifier WILL use.

never exceed max current carying capabilities of a wire either...

0awg - 125 amps
4awg-70a
8awg-40A
10awg-30A
14awg-20A

 

Wow, way to spoonfeed. It's always nice to be loved. lmao

That's more than I needed to know, and just enough. That should help a lot. The amps -> AWG is very helpful.
I'll check all my wattage requirements when I get home tonight (assuming the gf isn't still mad at me..) and then maybe I can start laying some tracks.

First the wiring.. and then the world!

 

^^ yeah, i sometimes write newb guides when I realize there is more then just a few things to know.