Power Cables: Brand Name vs Cheap No-Name

[amsterdamn]

I originally purchased a cheap amp installation kit with a 4GA power cable for my new setup, thinking 4GA is 4GA and it doesn't matter who's name is on the jacket.

I decided to buy a second amp, so I bought a short piece of 8GA to run to each amp from a distribution block. I bought a few feet of a name brand power cable from a roll.

Eventually I opened up the amp kit and noticed the extra thick jacket on the power cable. Out of curiosity, I compared it to the name brand cable. This is a picture of the two, with the 8GA on the left, and cheap 4GA on the right:



As you can see, the 8GA wire is the same diameter as the cheap 4GA!

I went out again and bought 24 feet of brand name 4GA, and this is what it looks like compared to the cheap 4GA:



The jacket is the same diameter, but the cheap cable has half the wire! Note: the cheap cable does have 4GA written on the jacket.

Maybe I'm the only one surprised by this, and it could even be common knowledge, but I always thought there was no difference between cheap and expensive power cables. I mean, 4GA is 4GA. It's a measurement of the wire, not the jacket.

Anyway, lesson learned.

[pl4yboy]

I originally purchased a cheap amp installation kit with a 4GA power cable for my new setup, thinking 4GA is 4GA and it doesn't matter who's name is on the jacket.

I decided to buy a second amp, so I bought a short piece of 8GA to run to each amp from a distribution block. I bought a few feet of a name brand power cable from a roll.

Eventually I opened up the amp kit and noticed the extra thick jacket on the power cable. Out of curiosity, I compared it to the name brand cable. This is a picture of the two, with the 8GA on the left, and cheap 4GA on the right:



As you can see, the 8GA wire is the same diameter as the cheap 4GA!

I went out again and bought 24 feet of brand name 4GA, and this is what it looks like compared to the cheap 4GA:



The jacket is the same diameter, but the cheap cable has half the wire! Note: the cheap cable does have 4GA written on the jacket.

Maybe I'm the only one surprised by this, and it could even be common knowledge, but I always thought there was no difference between cheap and expensive power cables. I mean, 4GA is 4GA. It's a measurement of the wire, not the jacket.

Anyway, lesson learned.

This is why I always use welding cable.

[amsterdamn]

Yeah...

[petey62782]

There really is a big difference but it only starts to matter when you get in to real serious stereo where sound quality is noticable but the sound and power quality is only as important as the signal being sent to it or the quality in the amp that's drawing the power so unless your planning to be involved in sound competitions the difference in sound in different grade wires doesn't matter.

[ducky]

There really is a big difference but it only starts to matter when you get in to real serious stereo where sound quality is noticable but the sound and power quality is only as important as the signal being sent to it or the quality in the amp that's drawing the power so unless your planning to be involved in sound competitions the difference in sound in different grade wires doesn't matter.

But do be carefuly because I had the wrong gauge wire and burnt the flippin crap out of the wire on mine. Coulda burnt the truck down too

[amsterdamn]

True, too small power wire = very bad.

[pl4yboy]

There really is a big difference but it only starts to matter when you get in to real serious stereo where sound quality is noticable but the sound and power quality is only as important as the signal being sent to it or the quality in the amp that's drawing the power so unless your planning to be involved in sound competitions the difference in sound in different grade wires doesn't matter.

Dumbest thing I've heard since maze said his friend hit 168 with a single 13w7. You guys must hang out.

[bangbangskeetskeet]

Dumbest thing I've heard since maze said his friend hit 168 with a single 13w7. You guys must hang out.

[Frenchy]

There really is a big difference but it only starts to matter when you get in to real serious stereo where sound quality is noticable but the sound and power quality is only as important as the signal being sent to it or the quality in the amp that's drawing the power so unless your planning to be involved in sound competitions the difference in sound in different grade wires doesn't matter.

Really?! So I can just use standard 14 gauge wire to power my amp? I never did like the big bulky stuff. Thanks for the heads up. Moron. Most of us like our trucks intact, not as smoldering heaps.

[petey62782]

Why don't you learn to read I said different grade as in monster cable verses Walmart brand not gauge learn to read before you comment