WIRING
The following is a basic formula to be used as a guide to determine current draw. A 50% amplifier efficiency rating is used as an average. Your new POWERCLASS™ amplifier is more efficient, other amplifiers will probably be less. This formula is to be used as a guideline. Using wire of a larger gauge can only improve the current transfer of your system. Do not use smaller gauge wire.
Total RMS output x 2 = Total Input Wattage
Total Input Wattage = Current Draw (in Amps)
Supply Voltage
Example: A POWERCLASS™ 1800 amplifier has one channel at 400 watts per channel RMS rating into 4 Ohms. You would use the formula in the following way:
400W x 2 = 800W
800W = 66.6A Total current draw.
12V
If the same amplifier is driven into a 2 ohm mono load, double it's 4 Ohm RMS rating. All POWERCLASS™ amplifiers will effectively double their power at this load.
400W x 2 x 2 = 1600W
1600W = 133.3A Total current draw.
12V
If you are using more than one amplifier, add up the total current draw for all of them and choose the appropriate gauge based on the grand total.
Po w e r W i r e C a l c u l a t o r 
Recommended MINIMUM Gauge
Total Current Draw |
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| Length Of Wire To Be Run |
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| ( in Amps) | Up to 4ft. | 4 to 7ft. | 7 to 10ft. | 10 to 13ft. 13 to 16ft. 16 to 19ft. 19 to 22ft. 22 to 28ft. |
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| 14 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
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| 12 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
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| 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
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| 8 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
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| 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
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| 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
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| 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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| 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 00 |
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NOTE: The ground wire should be the same gauge as the power wire.
6
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