Baja designs s8 40

Any idea to why my auxbeam panel would be melted by my Baja designs s8 40? I’m running 12 gauge wire on it, ground is on body of vehicle.

 

I’ll check to make sure it’s not sure but yes that’s 14 gauge for smaller lights like the rock lights.

 

Bd says that light is 16.3A. meaning a loose connection is the most likely culprit, though incorrect wire size could be a close second. Pure copper wire, or cca wire?

 

I clutched my pearls so hard at this

 

Seriously, what's the difference when it's used for low power loads?

Back before they were bought out and turned into a budget audio brand, 1950's chicago-based Jensen audio's official connection guide specifies using lamp cord to connect the speakers to one's hi-fi unit. Some of their speakers are now worth $8k+.

There's also been a few audiophile forums that have done blind tests to prove exotic wiring doesn't matter by using the extremely pricey audio speaker wire and 12 or 14 gauge Romex as speaker wire. No one can tell the difference in the blind test.

As long as the wire and type(solid/stranded/cca/copper) is sized appropriately for the load and conditions, the original intent of the wire doesn't matter in the least.

 

Heads up, a lot of the Amazon Wire is copper coated aluminum and is garbage.

You really have to invest in good wiring for your $hit.

I’ve been sticking with Pico for Primary Wiring.

I ran an S8 30” in my RZR off a 30amp relay with 12ga and had no problems. Hell my new RZR is running a 30” ONYX+ with the same setup. At idle it can’t even power the full bar, but it’s also on 12ga.

 

Also 14ga Amazon Speaker Wire probably holds less amps than 22ga quality primary wire, also Auxbeam bro.

 

cca wire isn't necessarily garbage. it does function, but requires better awareness of usage. the general rule of thumb is to step up 1-2 gauges larger when using cca wire.

pico appears to be a good source, as they reference SAE standard specifications for compliance-- many, many car audio brands don't. i've handled different lengths of 'official' 4ga from various 'reputable' car audio suppliers that is really closer to 8ga with a thicker outer jacket, or 1/0 that is really closer to 2ga... some of the most horrific examples were speaker wire-- 10 gauge jacket with an 18 gauge copper wire...

i tend to keep to knuconceptz for my wiring simply because they actually follow wire gauge standards in all their products.



in regards to "Amazon 14ga wire probably holds less amps than 22ga quality primary wire, also Auxbeam bro"

it really depends on a number of factors.

1. the supplier selling via amazon-- it's important to remember that amazon is both a reseller themselves, as well as a platform for anyone to sell things on. i see a lot of people misunderstanding that anything they purchase through amazon is not specifically connected to the company itself. i've personally used the 'amazon basics' pure copper speaker wire for projects, and it meets all applicable thickness standards. but i can't speak to what other budget or non-amazon-supplied wiring anyone picks up. i also would not recommend

2. as i hinted at before, i've held numerous examples of 'car audio speaker wire' that the outer jacket made it appear to be correct, but the copper strands were vastly under-sized. a few weren't all that far off from your 14ga=22ga example. it just pays to pay attention to what one is buying.

 

Yup it’s probably the bs amazing wire but the rest of the wires have zero issues just this s8 for some reason