Amp Install Kit Question

I just ordered a Hifonics ZXi-8006 5-channel amp and I'm not sure exactly what gauge amp kit to get. It lists "Molded 4-Gauge Power Inputs" in the description. Does this mean I have to get a 4 gauge kit? I'm hoping not because I found what looks like a pretty sweet deal on Amazon for a Kicker 8 gauge kit...

Kicker 05PK8 8-Gauge Single Amplifier Power Kit

http://www.amazon.com/Kicker-05PK8-...dp/B000FIA50C/ref=pe_17090_12023800_as_txt_4/
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Anything over about 500wrms I would suggest 4g. What does this amp do in power?

 

55x4 plus 200x1 RMS

 

4awg is pretty easy to obtain and run without much difficulty. I'd recommend it, and my favorite place to order wire and other electrical accessories is www.knukonceptz.com cheezy name, but he sells good quality stuff at a very reasonable price.

 

So would this kit give me everything I need?

http://www.knukonceptz.com/productDetail.cfm?prodID=KLM-K4

The next 4 gauge steps up to $40. Still better than the $45 the audio place wants to charge me for an 8 gauge I suppose.

 

That kit only has 1 RCA so you would need 2 more of those and also more speaker wire. BTW, if you have a Walmart around you may want to take a look there as the last time I was at mine they had Scosche wiring kits very reasonably priced.

 

So I need 3 RCA's total...1 for the front speakers, 1 for the rear speakers and 1 for the sub?

 

Yes or you could use a single 6 channel RCA since you only have the one amp.

 

Whew those 6 channel RCA's are $$$!!! I may just buy a kit that comes with 1 and buy 2 more separately. Crutchfield has 17 ft Scosche RCA cables for $8.

OK something else. I'm hooking it to my factory HU. Will this 4 channel line out converter work or is there another type I need for a 5 channel amp???

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item...oogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=froogle

 

The next step up is solid copper. I don't think there is much difference unless you are getting close to the ampacity of CCA, which, by my calcs, you aren't.


Marv is correct, Walmart does sell some very good priced amp kits. I will not recommend Walmart, because I refuse to shop there. But there is nothing wrong the with Scosche kits they sell.

He is also correct in his point that you will be in need of additional RCA cables. Knukoncept has those, but you can probably find some locally for about the same price and not have to wait for shipping.

 

Thanks for the advice guys. I talked to someone at Hifonics and he suggested that I would only need 2 RCA's since I'm running the amp with my factory head unit and it doesn't have a sub outlet. He said by switching the amp to 4 channel mode it would power the sub by combining channels 3 and 4. I asked if this would mean less power from the amp and he said no. Sounds basically like bridging a 4 channel amp to power 5 speakers to me, which kills the advantage of having a 5 channel amp.

So now I'm wondering...if I've only got 4 channels coming out of my radio, how am I supposed to utilize the 5th channel of the amp and power my sub without bridging? Is my only choice an aftermarket HU with a separate channel for a sub???

 

Hey Rod..that amp has 2 channel, 4 channel or 5 channel input capabilities. If you use only 2 channels of input all 5 channels will get their signals from the 2 channels but you cannot control each channel separately from the headunit. If you use 4 channels of input you will have front/rear fader capabilities however since the sub will get its signal from channels 3/4 (signal only, not power so it's different than bridging) it's level will be controlled by the fader along with the rear speakers.

Since the amp does not have a remote level control and you only have 4 channels of output you have a coupole of options..... run the front 2 channels from the headunit to channels 1/2 (front) and 3/4 (rear) using a y connector. Then connect the rear output from the headunit directly to the sub input on the amp. This way you will have separate control of the bass level from the headunit however you will not be able to fade front/rear (most people set and forget the rears anyway so this shouldn't be a problem).

The other option as I mentioned in the PM would be to run the front output to channels 1/2 and use a y connector to the sub channel with an inline level control and run the rear output to 3/4. This way you will have front/rear fader capabilities from the headunit and a separate bass level control (you'd have to find a place for the remote knob). Hope that made sense and if not give me a holler!