How the heck am I supposed to shove 4 gauge wire into here?!?! Crimp ring connectors?

[captainhook]

I'm installing a Kenwood KAC-M3004 amp to power two more pairs of Polk DB651s. I bought a Blue Sea 5205 6 circuit fuse block, KnuKonceptz 4 gauge power and ground wire, and a bunch of speaker wire. As I'm going to assemble it, I realize there is no way I am going to be able to shove 4 gauge wire under the fuse block circuits circled in the image below. What ring connectors is everyone using in this scenario?

 

[Dean P]

I believe you have purchased the wrong item. This is not meant to power an amp.

 

[Dean P]

I wired both my amps directly to the battery (I have 2 batteries - one/battery) with an in-line fuse.

 

[Scottie]

Normally, you would power the fuse block with 4ga wire, with positive connecting to the very bottom terminal, and negative connecting to the very top terminal, with an inline fuse of 100A for that particular fuse block. You would then connect your accessories to each fused terminal, with 12ga or smaller wire depending on your draw needs. If you're adding a single amp, then it should be wired directly to the battery, with an inline fuse spec'd by the amp. If you're adding multiple amps, then you can run large wire from the battery to a power distribution block and then distribute from there. In either case, I would not power an amp from a fuse block like you have pictured.

 

[captainhook]

Thanks, I saw that others were using this fuse block to power amps so I didn't even question the terminal size. I see that @Julian might be powering his amp with this as well but it looks like smaller cable from the fuse block to the amp (hard to tell in his thread's pictures).

I was planning to install a 100A circuit breaker near the battery for the 4 gauge power run.

 

[captainhook]

I should clarify that I will likely add another amp, a voltmeter, USB charging and potentially some other minor things. This is why I thought the fuse block would be a good idea.

 

[Cambo]

you need a 4 gauge fuse or circuit breaker mounted as close as possible to the battery then run the power wire to the amp. What you have pictured is for light duty electrical items for the boat.

 

[captainhook]

you need a 4 gauge fuse or circuit breaker mounted as close as possible to the battery then run the power wire to the amp. What you have pictured is for light duty electrical items for the boat.

I am adding this right next to the battery inline:

 

[Scottie]

Thanks, I saw that others were using this fuse block to power amps so I didn't even question the terminal size. I see that @Julian might be powering his amp with this as well but it looks like smaller cable from the fuse block to the amp (hard to tell in his thread's pictures).

I was planning to install a 100A circuit breaker near the battery for the 4 gauge power run.

You technically can. There are small amps that can run on 12ga power wire. The amp you've mentioned specs 10ga power and ground in the manual however. Even so, its always a good idea to run separate power and ground for your amplifiers, regardless of power requirements and wire size, just to make sure you're not picking up any unnecessary noise from any other devices, since the amps are on their own circuit.

 

[captainhook]

Thanks, I'll just add a couple of distribution blocks. Now the question is how big should I go and how many amps might I add in the future?

 

[Benny Sibbitt]

With a 4 gauge wire I would not run more than 2 600W amps off that one wire.
I ran 2 4 gauge wire for my 4 amps and used 2 distribution blocks

I did install that same 6 circuit fuse block you have under my helm for my GPS, Storage Lights and small electronics.

 

[vxooxv]

If it were me and if you were already thinking you'll be upgrading; do NOT use that to power your amps.

I ran 1/o gauge from the battery with an inline fuse to a 3-way 4 gauge power distribution block. I have 3 amps.

Amazon.com: Carwires PDB300-3-Way Power Distribution Block: Car Electronics

Buy Carwires PDB300-3-Way Power Distribution Block: Connecting Blocks - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Make sure you don't skimp on wire. Marine grade tinned Oxygen Free Copper. Most go with KnuKonceptz.com

Marine Power Wire

www.knukonceptz.com

Same for the ground, but a 4 way because I wanted an extra ground block by my amps which is not close to the batteries.

Amazon.com

My amps are on a switch, so if you need extra power sources next to your amps or otherwise your power panel will suffice, just use 12guage and run directly from the battery for say wetsounds controller, led's, usb etc. This will also help eliminate any potential static noise coming from your system; especially LED's. I found that out the hard way.

 

[Jgorm]

Run a mini anl distribution block instead. I use hydraulic crimpers for 4g and larger.

 

[captainhook]

If it were me and if you were already thinking you'll be upgrading; do NOT use that to power your amps.

I ran 1/o gauge from the battery with an inline fuse to a 3-way 4 gauge power distribution block. I have 3 amps.

Amazon.com: Carwires PDB300-3-Way Power Distribution Block: Car Electronics

Buy Carwires PDB300-3-Way Power Distribution Block: Connecting Blocks - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Make sure you don't skimp on wire. Marine grade tinned Oxygen Free Copper. Most go with KnuKonceptz.com

Marine Power Wire

www.knukonceptz.com

Same for the ground, but a 4 way because I wanted an extra ground block by my amps which is not close to the batteries.

Amazon.com

My amps are on a switch, so if you need extra power sources next to your amps or otherwise your power panel will suffice, just use 12guage and run directly from the battery for say wetsounds controller, led's, usb etc. This will also help eliminate any potential static noise coming from your system; especially LED's. I found that out the hard way.

Run a mini anl distribution block instead. I use hydraulic crimpers for 4g and larger.

Thanks, I ordered two distribution blocks. I highly doubt I'll add anything else audio-wise except a second amp. A remote possibility is a subwoofer but I don't even have one of those in my house yet so that seems pretty unlikely.

 

[Julian]

Thanks, I saw that others were using this fuse block to power amps so I didn't even question the terminal size. I see that @Julian might be powering his amp with this as well but it looks like smaller cable from the fuse block to the amp (hard to tell in his thread's pictures).

I was planning to install a 100A circuit breaker near the battery for the 4 gauge power run.

I dont use this for amps but use it for other accessories.

 

[captainhook]

I dont use this for amps but use it for other accessories.

Thanks, it was hard to tell in the picture I saw.

 

[zipper]

@captainhook The 4ga. power run with that 100a ckt. bkr connects to the terminal with the red circle around it and the ground with the black circle. The feeder wire needs to be 10' or less if running that amp from it.



I do power my Kenwood amp from this fuse block with 10ga. marine wire from a 30a fuse and a shorter than 10' run, per the manual and the Bluesea wire size chart and it has worked well for me for the last 2 years.

 

[captainhook]

@captainhook The 4ga. power with that 100a ckt. bkr connects to the terminal with the red circle around it and the ground with the black circle.

View attachment 99404

I do power my Kenwood amp from this fuse block with 10ga. marine wire from a 30a fuse, per the manual and it has worked well for me for the last 2 years.

View attachment 99405

Thanks, I figured somebody had to be powering the amp with it since it supports up to 30A per circuit. My biggest concern was fitting the 4 gauge or even 8 gauge wire in there but I’ve since ordered two distribution blocks for about $18. That’s not as cheap as ring connectors but at least I don’t have to go driving around town looking for some that fit.

 

[ripler]

I would be careful recommending a wire size and fuse size without knowing the details of the install. There many factors that come into play when sizing a feeder wire and no 2 installs are the same and you can easily smoke your wiring if you don't know how to size the wire. I wouldn't take anyone's recommendation on sizing your feeder wires, I would calculate it myself.

 

[zipper]

Google, Bluesea wire size chart. You will get this PDF.



I used this chart to size the wiring based on voltage drop, current demand and length of run. I wanted only a 3% voltage drop for the main feed to the fuse panel and the feed from it to the amp. And stayed within the recommended run length for the gauge used for the current demand. That was another reason I put my fuse panel where I did and fed it with a 4ga. wire with a 100a ckt. bkr. at the battery.