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Wolverine
| | Posted on Sunday, April 13, 2003 - 6:21 pm: | 
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To start, I have 6 and 1/2 feet of 2 10 guage wires 1 hot, and 1 ground hooked up to the battery. At the opposited end of these wires I have 1 10 guage Butt-connector terminating into a quick disconnect for my other amps. I just received my new palomar AB1 450 HD yesterday. It has 1 10 guage ground wire, and 2 10 guage power wires. I've never seen this on an amp before. What does 2x10 guage equal.. 1 guage??. Do I wire 1 or both hot wires into a quick disconnect using an oversize butt-connector?? Since my installation was already previously wired with 10 guage wire already (hot/ground), will the palomar amp be starved for juice since the ground is 10 guage and the hots are 2x10 guage wires?? What would happen if I just used 1 of the power wires on the amp instead of 2 wires? I know these are lengthy questions, but I'm told that the only stupid questions are the ones never asked. Any and all help would be appreciated on this installation. Thank You in advance. |
Tech671
| | Posted on Sunday, April 13, 2003 - 9:27 pm: |
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Use both wires, and + /- should both go to batt with at least 8ga wire. |
Boxcar
| | Posted on Sunday, April 13, 2003 - 9:44 pm: |
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I have a boomer 600 and it's the same set up for the positive wires on that also. Don't worry about it, just hook them both up as you would one. |
Wolverine
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 3:16 am: |
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Thanks. I started to freak out, and you can tell that by all the questions I was asking. Live and learn. For now, I'll utilize the 10 guage wire and quick-disconnect system that I have now, hook the amp up and run it on low power. That's until I upgrade to 8 guage wire and route that through the firewall to the battery (tedious job). One more question. Most current charts show that since this amp draws 39 amps max, and since I have such a short run of 10 guage from amp to the battery (6 1/2 ft), that I should'nt need 8 guage wire until I surpass 13 feet, or reach 50 amps. So, can't I get by with my current install, and run the Palomar on "Hi" with no problems?? By the way there is a 25 amp fuse in each of the hot leads. |
Wolverine
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 6:01 am: |
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Tech671, I think I'm trying to say that with my short length of 10 guage wire, there should'nt be much, if any voltage drop, or heat build up. If you dissagree, please tell me why, okay?.I think this amp will produce no more than 500 watts peak. Also the sd1446 pills have been getting bad press in my circle of friends. I know that they are small transistors, 2290's and 2879's are more powerful, but in your opinion are there any "Standout" redeeming qualities about these pills?? |
Wolverine
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 2:52 am: |
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Uhhh, anyone? |
Tech671
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 6:03 am: |
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I realize your run is only 6.5' long and took that into consideration when recommending 8ga wire for the install of a 450hd. Sure you could "get by" with 10ga, but 8 would "flow" with less heat and resistance. Would it be easier if you doubled your 10's? That's cool, just mirror what you already have and solder all connections.
Nothing wrong with 1446 transistors. They work well in pairs or quads as long as not overdriven, otherwise I prefer different transistors. |
Wolverine
| | Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 2:55 am: |
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Thank you much. I think I'll take it a step further and go to 6 guage since I have to do it all over again. Besides, I might up grade in the future (You never know). Thanks again!! |
Wolverine
| | Posted on Friday, April 18, 2003 - 2:44 am: |
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One final question (For Now). On a typical 3-pad tri-mag mount for the roof, what is the maximum wattage the coax will take rms/peak, before cooking? I not into drilling holes in the roof to my vehicle, but I'm thinking the roof paint will give before the coax "Fries", and the mag-mount will be useless. (Knowledge needed for possible future amp upgrades). Thanks. |
Tech671
| | Posted on Friday, April 18, 2003 - 5:37 am: |
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Typical 3-mag uses rg58 coax, hence 500w peak power handling. Some trimags allow you to use standard screw on jumpers of your choice, then you can determine whatever coax you need to handle what you're running. |
2600
| | Posted on Monday, April 21, 2003 - 1:43 am: |
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Umm, beware the "no-solder" coax connection at the base of the large mag mounts. It presses the coax center wire under a washer to make the connection to the mount bolt. High power will soften the plastic, and permit this connection to come loose. A guy told me his tri-mag couldn't have blown up his Texas Star 500 because the antenna on it was rated for 10,000 Watts. I told him that was all very nice, but his antenna CONNECTION was good for about 50 Watts. The coax will take a lot more power than that "clamped under a washer" connection to the coax center conductor will take.
73 |
Wolverine
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 6:31 am: |
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Thanks guys. Saturday morning I went to a stereo shop (Motor Music). They hooked me up with 7 ft of 8 guage wire fused at the battery. I asked him for 6 guage, and the owner said " there is no such thing as 6 guage, the next step is 4 guage". That 4 guage looked pretty thick, so I settled for 8 guage hot/ground. I'm set, for now. |
Wolverine
| | Posted on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 2:23 am: |
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Techs, I just discovered that the local stereo shop installed a 25 amp fuse at the battery. I believe that this fuse is too small, and that the correct fuse should be at least 50 to 60 amps fused at the battery. I own a boomer 400, and a palomar 450HD. Both amps have a quad of sd1446 pills, so am I right about the 50 to 60 amp fuse, or should I leave it as is?? Finally, radio theory states that bottom load antennas are good, center load is better, and top load antennas are best. Using this theory in comparing the wilson 5000 trucker, and the wilson 5000 mag-mount, which antenna has more "Gain" for Dxing? Just curious, my primary antenna is a Baby 55 big coil, and my back up ant is the 5000 trucker. Thanks. |
Wolverine
| | Posted on Friday, May 16, 2003 - 5:44 am: |
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Okay, I'm blowing fuses left and right, power output of the amps is half of what it's supposed to do. I'm told if I put in a fuse that's too big, then that's just as dangerous and could start a fire. I'm a operator not a tech, and a "Little help" is definetely needed here. Hopefully my two questions won't blown off as foolish. As it is, I'm 10-7 right about now. Thanks. |
Damyankee
| | Posted on Friday, May 16, 2003 - 6:29 pm: |
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Wolverine,
Sorry I can't help with the antenna question but 8ga wire will support 60 amps. If you can find fuses in that size go for it. Just remember you have 60 amps in that WHOLE wire. 73's |
Wolverine
| | Posted on Saturday, May 17, 2003 - 2:05 am: |
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Well thank god for small miracles. Thanks Damyankee. At least someone gave a d#m to offer a
solution. I've got nothing to lose, so I'll go with the 60 amp fuse. Just in case a fire breaks out, I'd better bring some marshmelows and a few shish-ka-bobs to keep my spirits up. |
Damyankee
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 11:29 pm: |
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Wolverine,
Any smoke yet? I guess that you won't be doing any marathon key-downs but 60 amps IS OK for intermittent use. If 50 is all you need then drop down to whatever you can live with and DO fuse both wires. Let us know what happens. - 340 |
Wolverine
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 2:19 am: |
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Actually Damyankee, The local stereo store installed a 60 amp fuse in this kind of "See through" transparent case. Mannnn, those fuses are huge compared to the smaller amp fuses used in automobiles. Both feedlines are fused at the battery. The stereo tech stated that if my amp draws about 40 amps, then the 60 amp fuse will hold under electrical spikes and surges. He was very patient with me in answering my questions. I fired my system up and talked to monterey from Daly city. Not too much AM skip going on in northern cali right about now, but I'm 10-8 once again and I'm smoking the "Airwaves instead of my wires". Thanks for asking, and the heads up, concerning my problem Damyankee. As I've stated before, It's nice to know that "Someone" out here actually "Gives a D#MMM". |
Bigbob
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 6:58 pm: |
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The said boomer can draw 45 amps so stay tuned,I would've been here sooner but my comp. has been telling me I need more ram crash,crash,crash,adinfinitum. oh yeah 6-gauge is even better for mobile units with 2 1-farad caps in line,pricy. |
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