Big ’’3’’ wiring for a boat

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Marine Electronics
Forum Discription: Boat Stereos, Security, Navigation, Lights, Switches, Gauges, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=48382
Printed Date: September 05, 2025 at 11:29 AM

Topic: Big ’’3’’ wiring for a boat

Posted By: goodsounds
Subject: Big ’’3’’ wiring for a boat
Date Posted: January 23, 2005 at 11:46 AM

I've read some information about 'Big 3' wiring.... 1/0 gauge wire 1.(+) Battery to (+) Alternator; 2.(-) Battery to Chassis; and 3.Chassis to Engine Block. This makes good sense to lessen the resistance for electron flow, but a boat has no chassis. For a boat would it be the Big '1'? Battery (+) to Alternator because there is no chassis and there is already 1/0 gauge ground wire from the (-) terminal to the engine block. Thanks for the help.
By the way I am pushing 700watts with JL 500.1 and Profile CL 440 to (2) JL 12w3's and (4) 6.5 Alpine coaxials.

Replies:

Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: January 23, 2005 at 12:11 PM

The key in most boat installs is running a sufficiently uniform ground system that includes the amps and the head unit and has less than one ohm from any point to the battery ground. Measure the resistance in your system (with the battery + disconnected) and if it's 1 ohm or less you are probably as good as it'll get. Cheers!

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Posted By: audeogod
Date Posted: January 23, 2005 at 2:04 PM

Wow, a boat install. That's cool! But I ask that you please be respectful to other fishermen on the water. I fish a lot, and big poundin' bass would spook them. You'll get cussed at a lot if you do that around fishermen.

Posted By: audeogod
Date Posted: January 23, 2005 at 2:06 PM

Funny how bass(low notes, pronounced base) and bass(fish, pronounced like ass but with a B[ sorry couldn't think of anything else]) are spelled the same. I wonder if they would like it after all.