Power Wire

[Jd377 6]

So I want to do the "Big 3" and I'm also about to re-run my amps power/ground because i'm upgrading amps and was looking for good cheap wire. I went to home depot and they have wire there that is much cheaper but I want to make sure it still works just as good? I saw they had 4awg and 1/0 and many others and they said they were copper wire. I just didn't know if it will do just as good. At my local audio shop its like $2 a ft for 4awg and $4 per ft of 1/0 but home depot is $0.85 per ft 4awg and $1.85 per ft of 1/0. It was just on their electrical aisle with all the random wires by the foot and crimps and all that good stuff.

I was wondering because I saw people on here say you can use welding wire like from weldingsupply.com and such and was wondering if this is the same stuff so I wouldn't have to pay shipping and get it same day.

Thanks for the help

[cheese20323 13]

as long as it's 12 v not the 110/220 one............and make sure it looks big if it is 1/0

[Mac N Cheese 90]

So I want to do the "Big 3" and I'm also about to re-run my amps power/ground because i'm upgrading amps and was looking for good cheap wire. I went to home depot and they have wire there that is much cheaper but I want to make sure it still works just as good? I saw they had 4awg and 1/0 and many others and they said they were copper wire. I just didn't know if it will do just as good. At my local audio shop its like $2 a ft for 4awg and $4 per ft of 1/0 but home depot is $0.85 per ft 4awg and $1.85 per ft of 1/0. It was just on their electrical aisle with all the random wires by the foot and crimps and all that good stuff.

I was wondering because I saw people on here say you can use welding wire like from weldingsupply.com and such and was wondering if this is the same stuff so I wouldn't have to pay shipping and get it same day.

Thanks for the help

I wouldn't bother with the home depot wire at all, personally never used it and never would. You should pick up some 1/0 from weldingsupply or knu konceptz so you know your getting quality stuff.

[CrazyKenKid 64]

welding supplies or knu for all your wiring needs!

keep in mind knu use CCA (copper clad alumium) stuff!

[Sir-Lancelot 216]

Double check the strand count. Most wire they carry that large has a few big strands, you dont want to use that.

Just get it from weldingsupply.com.

[slim142 9]

welding supplies or knu for all your wiring needs!

keep in mind knu use CCA (copper clad alumium) stuff!

is that worse or better than welding ones?

[ssh 924]

I vote for wire from welding supply, it's great

[emh9009 199]

welding supplies or knu for all your wiring needs!

keep in mind knu use CCA (copper clad alumium) stuff!

is that worse or better than welding ones?

CCA is copper wrapped around aluminum, which is less conductive. They have some wire that is all copper, which is just more expensive. i would suggest staying with the all copper.

EDIT: Fixed information mistake

Edited September 14, 2010 by watts09

[warmachine 0]

CCA I think carries around 5% less current, fairly insignificant numbers.

[Bob345 39]

welding supplies or knu for all your wiring needs!

keep in mind knu use CCA (copper clad alumium) stuff!

is that worse or better than welding ones?

i would go with welding cable. cca is 10% copper 90% aluminum. i have some of their kca but I'm not running over 2000 watts, it has a higher resistance than copper, that doesn't necessarily mean its bad, but if you wont be running any real high power it may be a good, cheap way to go. just depends on your application

[Jd377 6]

Alright sweet thanks! Good thing I didn't get like 20ft of it when i was there. And yeah I'll only be running about 1,500w but I want to get the real deal. Thanks again.

Btw, How do I know if its 12v or the 110/220 or whatever that was mentioned? Just for future reference.

[Duran 387]

welding supplies or knu for all your wiring needs!

keep in mind knu use CCA (copper clad alumium) stuff!

is that worse or better than welding ones?

CCA is aluminum wrapped around copper, which is less conductive. They have some wire that is all copper, which is just more expensive. i would suggest staying with the all copper.

Other way around, it's is aluminum wire clad with copper, and CCA sucks.

CCA I think carries around 5% less current, fairly insignificant numbers.

Not true, it makes a difference.

[chainsaw 5]

if you don't wanna wait/pay for shipping, look for welding supply store in your town. I was able to find a National Wedding Supply that was halfway between my house and my school that sold 1/0 for $2.28/foot. Not terrible considering the added shipping cost if ordered online; plus if I decide I need more, they are right down the road.

[emh9009 199]

Other way around, it's is aluminum wire clad with copper, and CCA sucks.

Thanks for catching that, fixed.

[mccleery3 166]

I agree to look for a welding supply location near you before you purchase online

[Jd377 6]

If I do end up having to order it at say weldingsupply.com, when I order it there is either like large bundles of wire ( which I wont use that much) and then there is like ones that just say for ex: $2.85 or something. How do you order like say.. 20ft? Do you put quantity 20? Or is there somewhere else on the site that you order by the foot. ( you can post a link if you want to show me where * and what wire you recommend 0/1 * on their site )

P.S..... Where the crap do I get 1/0 terminals.. like ring terminals for the ends of the wire??!! best buy only 4awg.. home depot 4awg... my autozone only 8awg.. ?? I can't find larger then 4. Unless there is somewhere else in home depot that i didnt look? I only looked on the "electrical aisle" Is there like a welding aisle that has like copper welding lugs or something? THANKS SO MUCH!

Edited September 14, 2010 by Jd377

[Argent Audio 54]

If you need some wire send me a PM, I'm a Stinger dealer.

I have wire, terminals etc, anything you could wish for

Andrew