2nd gen recommended audio wire lengths

I'm getting ready to wire up everything for my '08 DC - speaker wire, amp wiring, etc., but I'm not sure what lengths or guages to use. I didn't find anyone who had this posted, so maybe we can get this in one place?

I'm primarily interested in the 2nd gen DC, but I might as well get us started on helping everyone

Please help me fill in the answers below (or correct them if necessary ) I started on the speaker wire for the front door, so I'll try to measure that this weekend.




Wire Lengths, guages and general routing

(Maybe we can get a 'chart' of recommended power wire guages in relation to amp sizes? For example, "100W - 800W: USE 8 AWG, 800W-1200W: USE..." and so on)

All examples assume that the amplifiers are being mounted to the rear wall of the cab. Please adjust as necessary for your own application.

All examples assume 14AWG wire for speakers.

1st Gen

Regular Cab

Power:
RCA:
Left Speaker:
Right Speaker:

Access Cab

Power:
RCA:
Front Left Speaker:
Front Right Speaker:
Rear Left Speaker:
Rear Right Speaker:

Double Cab

Power:
RCA:
Front Left Speaker:
Front Right Speaker:
Rear Left Speaker:
Rear Right Speaker:


2nd Gen

Route Power from driver's side through pre-drilled hole in firewall and underneath plastic door trim on floor. Fuse near battery, distribution block near amp installation location.

Route Speaker from back of speaker magnet, through rubber between door and cab, then underneath plastic door trim on floor.

Route RCA from rear of deck along passenger side. RCA should run along the point where the bottom of the dash meets the footwell, then down underneath plastic door trim on floor.

Regular Cab

Power:
RCA:
Left Speaker:
Right Speaker:

Access Cab

Power:
RCA:
Front Left Speaker:
Front Right Speaker:
Rear Left Speaker:
Rear Right Speaker:

Double Cab

Power:
RCA:
Front Left Speaker:
Front Right Speaker:
Rear Left Speaker:
Rear Right Speaker:

 

Really it depends on length, but for the speakers I wouldn't think you'd need more than 10 AWG. Wiring is a honey pot for manufacturers because they can tell you their wire are better for x and y reasons when really it's not. Even for subs you wouldn't need more than 8 or 6 AWG. Considering a 400 W amplifier connected to a 2 Ohm load should be running ~14V and ~28 A. Check out the chart here:

http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

That shows you the resistance/1000'. So take the 10 AWG wire for example, if you have 10' going to your front speaker, then you would be adding a 10 mOhm resistor in series. Therefore you are dissipating .27 W in the line, which is fairly insignificant.

 

I'm not so concerned with the speakers. I'm running 14AWG just because that's what I have around and it stands up to abuse a bit better than the factory 22AWG or whatever weenie wire they usually go with. I'm more concerned with the amp power wires. If I looked at your chart right, an amp at 1100 watts with 20' of wire should be using at least 4AWG due to load and voltage drop... right?

Additionally, with the cost of cabling, it would be nice to know how much to buy - I had enough wire from my first install that I did two cars and had some left over

 

Any update on this?

 

Dont skimp on power and ground wire period. The less voltage drop you have the better and safer off your electronics will be.

 

Power and ground is EVERYTHING. If you skimp on it. It would be like needing to take deep breaths thru a straw and then pinching it. Make sure it's ofc too. CCa wire is garbage and will cause problems