My Wire Must Have Gotten HOT

[holley2346 6]

This was all caused by a loose connection. I had a shunt in between the battery and the amp so I could watch the current draw at all times. The connection on the amp side of the shunt got a little loose, and well it pretty much melted the wire into one big strand.

I didn't shoot a picture of the connection, but you could tell it got hot.

I know that the piece looks like Solder, but I assure you 110% it was CCA KNU wire.

This time I'll tighten it up a little more

And I cut another 3/4 inch further,

I don't know what temperature it got to, but it made it to whatever temperature turns a copper ring terminal black with green and white corrosion.

[emh9009 199]

looks like a good time to get some 100% copper 1/0

[Sir-Lancelot 216]

ouch, at least you caught it before anything really bad happened.

[shizzzon 461]

the funny thing is while you may think it's a cool idea to monitor amperage... if you were monitoring voltage instead, you would have realized there was a problem with voltage drop due to something..(loose cable) and had fixed it even sooner.

Seems like a great idea, right?

[CrazyKenKid 64]

o wow it must have been hot stuff lol!

is that knu cca klossus or how ever you spell it there expensive stuff

also I wonder if 100% would have prevented this or just prolonged it?

[emh9009 199]

Kolossus Fleks >> CCA (what is show in the pic.)

[CrazyKenKid 64]

Kolossus Fleks >> CCA (what is show in the pic.)

i just looked at the pics again wow! lol it looks like it melted together to make a brick of aluminum lol.

I wonder how copper would have held up! any idea's?

[holley2346 6]

the funny thing is while you may think it's a cool idea to monitor amperage... if you were monitoring voltage instead, you would have realized there was a problem with voltage drop due to something..(loose cable) and had fixed it even sooner.

Seems like a great idea, right?

Hey now, no sense in getting smart... you may not have been, but it sure did seem like it.

I have a total of 4 gauges in my center console, 2 measure amperage up to 300 shunt amps... the other 2 are voltmeters on the input of my amps. What happened was an honest mistake, and I assure you it will not happen again.

I might as well have not had any of the gauges though, I had the previous setup for a while, and got burnt out on it. It was rarely played over 1/4, which left me no reason to monitor my gauges. Regardless, this will not happen again. I don't need my truck burning up.

Edited December 16, 2010 by holley2346

[CrazyKenKid 64]

question.. how did this happen in the first place? did you not tighten it enough? or did it just come loose over time? or was this awhile ago and you don't remember off hand? (like a while ago when you did the install)

[holley2346 6]

Kolossus Fleks >> CCA (what is show in the pic.)

i just looked at the pics again wow! lol it looks like it melted together to make a brick of aluminum lol.

I wonder how copper would have held up! any idea's?

I'm not sure, but I now have 100% copper welding supply wire. I was disappointed in the thickness of the wire, but according to the site the welding supply wire can handle more current than the cca knu can.... The upgrade can't hurt!

[holley2346 6]

question.. how did this happen in the first place? did you not tighten it enough? or did it just come loose over time? or was this awhile ago and you don't remember off hand? (like a while ago when you did the install)

Initially the connection was tight (not overly tight since it had a lock washer)... I believe a years worth the vibrations loosened it. And since I was so used to the system I always just put the key in my truck and drove... never looking back to check on the system. But now I could easily see it reaching over 1000 Fahrenheit with the consistent small archs. I've never had this problem before, but you live and learn. I will keep a check up on my next set up