how much speaker wire

[jshaf]

having door speakers installed and want to purchase the materials before hand. having wires running from the amp which is installed right behind the rear seat to the doors, how much wire for two doors, any particular awg rating?

[darkrider01]

I personally wouldn't go smaller than 16ga. You could probably get by with 30 feet or so, but I'd go with 50 to be 100% sure. If it's just for one speaker in each door, 30 feet would probably do.

[CWI]

I've always been told the OEM wire is enough unless you get into some extreme wattage. What gauge wire is stock, I don't even know.

Look at this.http://www.audioholics.com/education...er-cable-gauge

[CrutchfieldBrooke]

I pretty much tell my customers at work the same thing that darkrider suggested yo you as far as gauge and length goes.

[jeepguy_1980]

Originally Posted by CWIweldace

I've always been told the OEM wire is enough unless you get into some extreme wattage. What gauge wire is stock, I don't even know.

Look at this.http://www.audioholics.com/education...er-cable-gauge

The stock wire is about 20awg.


I see you have a 1LT, which means that the suggestion of just using the stock wiring isn't an option. But you have two options:

1) Run wire from your amp into each door. This will be a massive pain. You will have to drill your door and door jamb, or drill your wiring harness to make room for the new/larger wiring.
2) Run the wire from the amp to behind your dash, use an aftermarket harness and splice the speaker wires from the amp into the front door speaker wires on the harness. I suggest buying a PAC AA-GM44 and use the wiring harness included. The downside to this option is you are running through some of the stock wiring.

Regardless of the route you choose, the best option for wiring the rear speakers is to go directly from the amp. To wire the doors as in option one, I would recommend 25' per side, 50' total. For option 2, I would recommend 20 feet per side, 40 feet total. For the trunk speakers, I would say 25 feet total.

The harness I used:


To do option one, here is a video of using the stock harness. If you do not use the harness option and decide to drill the door, the doors have to be removed and then re-installed and aligned by a body shop.

[jshaf]

Originally Posted by jeepguy_1980

The stock wire is about 20awg.


I see you have a 1LT, which means that the suggestion of just using the stock wiring isn't an option. But you have two options:

1) Run wire from your amp into each door. This will be a massive pain. You will have to drill your door and door jamb, or drill your wiring harness to make room for the new/larger wiring.
2) Run the wire from the amp to behind your dash, use an aftermarket harness and splice the speaker wires from the amp into the front door speaker wires on the harness. I suggest buying a PAC AA-GM44 and use the wiring harness included. The downside to this option is you are running through some of the stock wiring.

Regardless of the route you choose, the best option for wiring the rear speakers is to go directly from the amp. To wire the doors as in option one, I would recommend 25' per side, 50' total. For option 2, I would recommend 20 feet per side, 40 feet total. For the trunk speakers, I would say 25 feet total.

The harness I used:


To do option one, here is a video of using the stock harness. If you do not use the harness option and decide to drill the door, the doors have to be removed and then re-installed and aligned by a body shop.

got with the installer and we are doing option 2, thanks for the info. he was out of a couple items so will have to wait til later next week to get it installed but he discribed your option #2 almost exactly.

[CWI]

I am using the factory wiring to the doors to Focals with 150 watts per channel. Guess i'll have to check the resistance of the speakers vs. the speakers and wire to see if the wiring is choking the signal. I'm thinking the factory wire is at least 16 ga though.

[jeepguy_1980]

Originally Posted by CWIweldace

I am using the factory wiring to the doors to Focals with 150 watts per channel. Guess i'll have to check the resistance of the speakers vs. the speakers and wire to see if the wiring is choking the signal. I'm thinking the factory wire is at least 16 ga though.

It's not 16 gauge. It's 20.

[CWI]

Originally Posted by jeepguy_1980

It's not 16 gauge. It's 20.

I'll definately have to measure the resistance next weekend when I install my new MS-8. Time to optimize the system.

[The 2010 Sin]

If you're going to run new wire to your doors remember you're going to have to drill a hole as a wire doesnt like to go through a molex plug! :-P