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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

Accessory power wire question.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wayne Waldrep
  • Start date Start date Apr 18, 2019

Wayne Waldrep

Before I post a pic, do you have one of yours?
20+ Year Stangneter
Apr 14, 2003
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659
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Cuba, AL
Apr 18, 2019
#1
  • Apr 18, 2019
  • #1
So I'd like to wrap up a few items in my car in a few weeks such as finally putting the audio system and the two 12v power ports back in.
Let's say I'd like to make one wire run from inside to under the hood and use that wire to feed a distribution block for both things above...and maybe have a spare spot for something else later. I'm conservative so there WON'T be 4 amplifiers and a 1000w game spotlight, ever. My question is, does this sound like a good idea? Has anyone done this and if so, gimme some details.

Disclaimer:
My thoughts on wiring... Wiring is sized to carry a certain load of the attached items. Fuses are sized so that the wire doesn't burn. (All these numbers are complete rubbish and for example only). So if you have, for example, 10 amps draw from the items and the chart says you need an 8 gauge wire for 20 amps, you have double the wire size, which is fine. The wire won't burn until more than 20 amps are applied, in theory. So if you put an 18 amp fuse in, you are covered. Some people want to mistakenly fuse based on the 10 amps that the equipment draws. That is incorrect. If the wire can safely support 20 amps, why fuse down near 10 amps? Any flaws in my disclaimer?

Been dealing with enormous stress lately so please hold words like idiot, stupid, moron, etc to the bare minimum...lol

Thanks!
 
Last edited: Apr 19, 2019

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
Mod Dude
Aug 25, 2016
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polk county florida
Apr 18, 2019
#2
  • Apr 18, 2019
  • #2
Wayne Waldrep said:
words like idiot, stupid, moron, etc to the bare minimum...lol
Click to expand...
The members here are not allowed to use those words unless referencing advice given by me.
or someone driving a prius that wants to race.
 

Wayne Waldrep

Before I post a pic, do you have one of yours?
20+ Year Stangneter
Apr 14, 2003
1,338
659
143
Cuba, AL
Apr 18, 2019
#3
  • Apr 18, 2019
  • #3
General karthief said:
The members here are not allowed to use those words unless referencing advice given by me.
or someone driving a prius that wants to race.
Click to expand...
LOL....whew!
 

TOOLOW91

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?
20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 29, 1999
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S.I.NY
Apr 19, 2019
#4
  • Apr 19, 2019
  • #4
I think a 4ga wire from the battery would be fine . I ran one PPI art series and a us amp for 6 years like this with no issue.

You could branch out to 8ga to the amps from your block as it would most likely be located real close to them .

I just installed a usb power port in my console and I used the cig lighter circuit as it’s already fused . Hope this helps
 
Reactions: Wayne Waldrep

Wayne Waldrep

Before I post a pic, do you have one of yours?
20+ Year Stangneter
Apr 14, 2003
1,338
659
143
Cuba, AL
Apr 19, 2019
#5
  • Apr 19, 2019
  • #5

This is what I'm thinking. I left wire gauge off in case someone down the road looks at this and were to use my numbers in error. Don't want to torch their car. And for reference the chart below is off of Crutchfield's site.

 

TOOLOW91

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?
20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 29, 1999
8,501
8,761
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S.I.NY
Apr 19, 2019
#6
  • Apr 19, 2019
  • #6
Your Stock radio harness doesn’t power your head unit anymore ?

Your diagram is fine like I said I think 4 is plenty then 8 for your amps off the dist block
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
Admin Dude
Jan 4, 1985
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Apr 19, 2019
#7
  • Apr 19, 2019
  • #7
General karthief said:
The members here are not allowed to use those words unless referencing advice given by me.
or someone driving a prius that wants to race.
Click to expand...

... or drive in the hammer lane for no damned reason
 
Reactions: General karthief

Wayne Waldrep

Before I post a pic, do you have one of yours?
20+ Year Stangneter
Apr 14, 2003
1,338
659
143
Cuba, AL
Apr 19, 2019
#8
  • Apr 19, 2019
  • #8
TOOLOW91 said:
Your Stock radio harness doesn’t power your head unit anymore ?

Your diagram is fine like I said I think 4 is plenty then 8 for your amps off the dist block
Click to expand...
No. I had a buddy long ago that worked at a stereo shop. I bought a stereo to put in the car and he insisted on putting it in for me. I've been trying to recover ever since...lol. And I don't have amps. I have one SoundStream 5ch that I'd love to put back in. It has a dead channel and needs a repair. That would be the only amp I would ever put in it. More than likely will just run radio power. 4 gauge would definitely cover it. 8 gauge would cover 65amps for a 10'-13' run. I'd never go over that.
 

TOOLOW91

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?
20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 29, 1999
8,501
8,761
234
S.I.NY
Apr 19, 2019
#9
  • Apr 19, 2019
  • #9
Wish you were close by I’d tell you just drop it to me and I would sort it all out for you
 

Wayne Waldrep

Before I post a pic, do you have one of yours?
20+ Year Stangneter
Apr 14, 2003
1,338
659
143
Cuba, AL
Apr 19, 2019
#10
  • Apr 19, 2019
  • #10
TOOLOW91 said:
Wish you were close by I’d tell you just drop it to me and I would sort it all out for you
Click to expand...
I appreciate it. I'm just wanting to run a single wire one more time in my life and not have to crawl under the dash again. Too old and too big.
 
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