running wires, where and how long?

So I'm planning my install and have a few questions for those who installed a stereo on a double cab tacoma.

I'm mounting the amps behind the rear seats. How long do I need to get the RCA cables? Where do I run them? I'm thinking of straight back along the tranny hump...

Power cable, did you run it under the truck entirely? Come up through a rear hole in the ground? Did you bring just the pos back to the rear or should I run the neg cable to the battery? Should I run a 0/1 to the rear and split with distro block?

I know it sounds like a rookie question, because I am!!! Thanks in advance, I'd like to see how much I can manage to get done on my own to save some installation costs. Take care.

Rob

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/audio-video/12053-pics-my-sub-amp-installation.html

I think that 0/1 is waste of copper ( I doubt that you will be drawing enough current to warrant it).

As for length, I am pretty sure a 10-12' RCA will give you all the options of running the cable where ever you want.

 

10 feet would probably be plenty..

 

I'm only running a 300w for my speakers and 500w for my sub, should I just run 2 gauge instead? I can split that at the rear on my amp board to run each amplifier. Should I run this in the cab or under the frame to behind the seats? Thanks again for the info guys!!!

Rob

 

I have a 4awg fosgate kit and it's plenty for my JL 500/1

You can run the wires wherever you want, but by far the easiest thing to do is just pop off the trim pieces on the door jams and run it through. I ran one set of pre amp wires w. the power along the drivers side with no issues. I plan on running the other 2 sets of RCAs on the passenger side.

 

Rule of thumb when I did a lot of car audo work was that your ground wire should never be longer than 3 feet and never grounded at the battery. Find a good piece of metal and go right to it. I prefer seat bolts but you can be creative with ground as long as it's touching bare metal.

 

Correct, do your best to keep the ground wire as short as possible (under 3'). I think 4 awg has plenty of ampacity for just about anything you are going to throw at it.

 

Damn! Good thing I asked, I was about to run multiple cables into my cab, I'll just run a positive 2 gauge to the rear and ground the battery properly with a larger ground cable and then ground the amps properly. Thanks for the advice!

Rob

 

Based on the current draw of a true 800 watts and typical a/b amp efficiency 4AWG will be plenty for your situation (class d amps would typically be more efficient so 4AWG will still be fine). Not meaning to step on any toes but I also wanted to mention that it is in fact OK to run the ground wire all the way to the battery when necessary as long as the ground wire has at least the same capacity as the properly sized power wire (that's how we do it in boats but in your case it is definitely not necessary since as mentioned you have plenty of good ground points). Almost forgot, not all metal is a good ground point in today's vehicle as some metal panels are actually held in place with adhesive which could isolate it from the ground plane.

 

I just realized who you are!

 

Awesome Marv! Yup it's me, getting started on the wiring!

Rob