Harley Davidson Forums

Audio Systems Find answers to all of your stereo, speaker and other audio technology questions here.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Is 12 Gauge good enough

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 25, 2018 | 11:04 AM
Share
  #1  
RickK's Avatar
RickK
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 155
Likes: 1
From: Bama
Default Is 12 Gauge good enough
Installing a second amp in the bag. My first amp (BT4180) installed in front uses a 12 gauge power and ground wire. Will this be large enough for the JL 440/4 in the rear?


Thanks
 
Reply
0
Old Apr 25, 2018 | 01:06 PM
Share
  #2  
travelingypsye's Avatar
travelingypsye
Stellar HDF Member
5 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 3,371
Likes: 689
From: indiana
Default
I personally use min of 10 ga.
 
Reply
0
Old Apr 25, 2018 | 01:18 PM
Share
  #3  
Respect's Avatar
Respect
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 279
Likes: 23
From: The Falls
Default
Considering JL calls for 4 ga on that amp I'd probably go better than 12 ga. For the size it is 8 ga is pretty small and cheap. Besides the terminal might not even cinch on 12 ga.
 
Reply
0
Old Apr 25, 2018 | 02:43 PM
Share
  #4  
IIBADII's Avatar
IIBADII
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 152
Likes: 14
From: South Side Chicago
Default
Bare minimum I would say 8.
 
Reply
0
Old Apr 25, 2018 | 02:49 PM
Share
  #5  
sponger's Avatar
sponger
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 79
From: so cal
Default
Originally Posted by RickK
Installing a second amp in the bag. My first amp (BT4180) installed in front uses a 12 gauge power and ground wire. Will this be large enough for the JL 440/4 in the rear?


Thanks
Minimum is use is 8 gauge as well. But REAL 8 gauge. Like from knukonceptz.
 
Reply
0
Old Apr 25, 2018 | 04:11 PM
Share
  #6  
RickK's Avatar
RickK
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 155
Likes: 1
From: Bama
Default
So it would need to be 8 all the way to the battery. I was going to use a junction block and split to both amps. But the 4180 only requires about 12 and that wire is all ready ran.


I might run 8 from the battery to a block then 8 to the JL and 10 to the BT4180. I don't think the BT will accept any thing lager than 10. Hell, I'm struggling to connect 18 G speaker wire to the BT speaker outs . I hate their speaker connections.
 
Reply
0
Old Apr 25, 2018 | 07:05 PM
Share
  #7  
sponger's Avatar
sponger
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 79
From: so cal
Default
12 gauge seems real small for an amp that is supposed to put out some good power. Maybe sell that piece of crap and get a real amp, with real connections.
 
Reply
0

Trending Topics

Old Apr 25, 2018 | 08:51 PM
Share
  #8  
Moto Mike's Avatar
Moto Mike
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,812
Likes: 122
From: Joliet IL.
Default
Originally Posted by RickK
So it would need to be 8 all the way to the battery. I was going to use a junction block and split to both amps. But the 4180 only requires about 12 and that wire is all ready ran.


I might run 8 from the battery to a block then 8 to the JL and 10 to the BT4180. I don't think the BT will accept any thing lager than 10. Hell, I'm struggling to connect 18 G speaker wire to the BT speaker outs . I hate their speaker connections.
Check out the BT 4250 thread I just posted how I use Novello connector male pins to crimp on your speaker wire that work well with those damn spring terminals, When I complained to Mike at BT he said that I was the only one that ever complained about those cheeaap spring terminals!
 
Reply
0
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 26, 2018 | 06:43 AM
Share
  #9  
azlou66's Avatar
azlou66
Road Captain
Veteran: Air Force
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 668
Likes: 34
From: Florida
Default
Originally Posted by sponger
12 gauge seems real small for an amp that is supposed to put out some good power. Maybe sell that piece of crap and get a real amp, with real connections.
You're barking up the wrong tree right there. BT amps are extremely clean sounding and very accurate. 180 x 4 half the size of a Hertz HDP4.
 
Reply
0
Old Apr 26, 2018 | 02:04 PM
Share
  #10  
sponger's Avatar
sponger
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 79
From: so cal
Default
look at a power wire guide and it will say it needs WAY bigger wiring. Why did they skimp on that? Tsk tsk.
 
Reply
0



Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:01 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE