X9000 power wire, 6awg or??

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 12:11 am

I need to lengthen the positive on some X9000 control cable's, what gauge does Moto spec on these? The service manual doesn't mention the wire gauge for them.

I compared the stock wire to some 8awg and it's slightly bigger than that. So, i'm guessing the OE stuff is 6awg? The original wire has 19 strands and a fairly thick insulation. I'm thinking with the short runs i will have, around 5-6ft that i might use some good quality 8awg to lengthen them since i can't find 6awg anywhere.

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 12:23 am

Nevermind.. Late night. I tell ya one thing, not all 8 awg wire is created equal! I got some stuff here that is only 16 strand, and some stuff that is 19 strand. Just enough to make it look like a different size!

Off to bed...

HLA · Post by **HLA** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 1:20 am

6ga is plenty big if it's a 100 watter and 8 ga is sufficient if it's a 45 watter.

wa2zdy · Post by **wa2zdy** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 5:01 am

My 110w X came with 8 guage. The longer the run is the higher the voltage drop. I believe #8 is rated for 40A up to 20 feet or something. My X draws 28A key down.

Can't hurt running heavier guage wire as long as you can get it through the tight spots.

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 9:25 am

These 100w radios have 8awg wire, but the wire spool i had from the local auto parts place was cheapy crap that was not as big as the Moto original. I dug around through my spools and found some 8awg that i bought from Waytek a while back and it was exactly the same size as the Moto original.

The Moto stuff is 19/21 and this parts store crap is 16/?, i'm going to say probably 16/24 because it's definitely smaller strands than the other stuff.

jim · Post by **jim** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:04 pm

"6ga is plenty big if it's a 100 watter and 8 ga is sufficient if it's a 45 watter."

Damn...That must be one inefficient 45W radio that has tubes in iut. I can transmit (5) 45W radios on a #8 cable- at once.

An X9000 @ 28A over that distance will work just fine on a #8 cable with minimal loss. Motorola's cabling and fusing has always been overkill. Their 45W radios are fused at 15A where a 45W Kenwood radio is fused at 10A. An Asstro Specta low power 800/P25 radio comes with a #10 cable with a 20A fuse which is extreme overkill. I guess "M" thinks you need this.

Hint: use SAE rated wire- not junk car stereo or Autozone quality primary wire. Many "#8" cables are just #10 with thick insulation.
Most brand-name welding cable is SAE rated and its "hi strand" core is flexible and handles current well.

The jipper car stereo cable is the lowest melting point and the most flammable cable you can imagine. You can set it on fire with a lighter in seconds. It's also not even close to meeting any SAE specs. Don't use it for anything. Good cable isn't much more $$$

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:43 pm

I've used a lot of the Street Wires and Sound Quest brand wire, good quality and stays flexible even on the coldest of days. Some of the stuff i have seen come out of the local car audio place was horrible crap, it had thicker insulation to make it look like heavier gauge wire like you mention.

What some companies will do to make a buck!