"true gauge" of amp power/ground wire
 

I ordered some 2 awg amp wire from sonic electronix on e bay and after I have received it I noticed the diameter of the wire (not the insulation) is smaller than some other 4 awg I had left over from a previous install. Did I get "taken" on this 2 awg I purchased??

the blue is the "2 awg" I ordered from sonic electronix, the yellow is the 4 awg I had from a previous install. Does anyone have some insight on this? I am really wanting 2 awg to run from my battery to my distribution block... but this is giving me a lot of doubt as it appears to be close to almost 8 awg.

Weaksauce. Darvex.com has fair prices on quality stinger wire.

There is no way that is 2 awg. I agree it looks more like 8.

Hate to tell you, but almost all cheap power wire is like that. You get what you pay for. Gotta love imported crap!

I had to return wire a few times that I bought on eBay before I learned my lesson.

This is the place I used to rewire my entire boat:

http://shop.genuinedealz.com/

Real gauge wire, reasonably priced, marine grade and fast shipping. I bout tons from them and was very happy. I'll be using them again shortly when I setup a battery bank.

I've had good luck here too

http://tinnedmarinewire.com/wire/

The cable on the LEFT is a CCA -- Aluminum cable. The cable on the RIGHT appears to be a copper cable.

Copper is about 10x more expensive than CCA. So mfg's have been screwing around with the conductors and also the outer jacket. Yes its retarded and yes there is a major difference. The same is true with speaker cable these days... If it seems to be cheap. This is probably why. Get high quality stuff. Don't skimp on it.

The back story on all this is circa 1998, a retailer on the boarder of Texas and Mexico (I won't name names), came up with the idea to chop the price right down and approached a Taiwanese mfg to spec build it. It cost a lot less and looked similar. At that time, my phone rang off the hook with upset retailers saying they couldn't compete and because furious about our cable kit prices (I worked for a cable mfg). We shook our heads and just hoped this stupid stuff would go away. It didn't. Now in 2012, most mfg's offer both varieties. And the copper is especially tricky because the raw material prices vary so much retailers never know what the cost is going to be. Prices change weekly. Thats the 411. Careful for what you pay for. Stay away from CCA.


-Brian
Exile Audio

ps: great pic! really shows the difference!

Thanks for all the info. I'll be returning this stuff. There is a local car audio shop that usually has amp wire on hand. I'll try them if its not too insanely priced.

Oh and beings I'm shelling out the money for some good stuff. Is there a real major advantage to the tinned wire? I know its the standard in marine applications but if my local place doesn't have it then I'd end up ordering and losing more time!

That is typical of really cheap wire. The color difference is an immediate clue. It's even more shocking when you put two equal lengths of wire on a digital scale.

Since there is no governing body to enforce amplifier power specs you get much of the same deception from electronics manufacturers/importers. Many amplifiers may only put out 20 percent or less of the power stated on the chassis badge.

How do they get away with it? Well, there is always the 'appeal of the good deal'.

David
Earmark Marine

x2 for www.GenuineDealz.com

I order all of my marine cable from genuinedealz and all of my stereo cable from Darvex (stinger HPM)

Pacergroup.net is also a good one - they do a lot of OEM wire for Malibu

What is the new kicker / RF wire made of? I notice it is incredably easy to bend. Is it a different way of braiding it or is it actually aluminum?

I've used welding cable in the past...not as "pretty" but inexpensive and works great.

WOW! Talk about some bull shizz!! I bought all my stuff locally or from a frined in the marine business so I know its' legit but had I paid cheap prices I'd be checking it out right about now.

Just ordered some stinger cables from darvex
.. hopefully it arrives by the weekend!