2 Ground Wires To The Chassis?

MVAP wrote: I read a passage on an Individuals cardomain web page, that they used a second ground wire from there battery to the side of the car, to keep the lights from dimming? Has anyone heard of somthing like this?

Heard of it, and it's NOT NECESSARILY the fix to a dimming headlight (low voltage) situation...

MVAP wrote: Why not use a bigger gauge wire like a (4gauge) to the chassis instead of two smaller gauges?

Two smaller wires is less expensive than one large one, to start off... secondly, two smaller cables can allow multiple gronding points, which CAN help with distribution, and minimize a higher resistance ground. I personally use (2) 4 gauge wires for the battery/system, but only one 4 gauge wire for the alternator/chassis connection. ALL of the grounds in my car are, at a minimum, (2) 4 gauge wires.

MVAP wrote: Would not having a bigger Altenator solve the problem of dimming lights? Sorry about all the questions!    Hungry for knowledge!!!!

At least you already understand! Yes the alternator is where the energy COMES from in ANY car's electrical system. Without sufficient alternator capacity, NONE of your electrical components are goung to run as efficiently as they could, and CAN suffer a shortened life span due to this lack of efficiency. The alternator is not the ONLY upgrade required, however. With increased current capability, you need to be certain the STORAGE and TRANSMISSION of said capability are up to the task. This means battery and underhood wiring. HERE is where you would need to upgrade your wiring to the 4 gauge (minimim). Hungry for knowledge? You've come to the right place! We've got some of the BEST here! Read, understand, and HEED the advice given...It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."

I know in the Kicker tech manual for their KX amps they recomend adding a second ground from the battery directly to the chassis.

I was just thinking about this. Installers usually remember to put the 4gauge ground on the amp terminal but over look the fact that the battery's ground wire is an 8gauge. I know I'm guilty of this. Also I recently did an engine swap on an integra and found out that if I don't ground the motor and the chasis properly; when I turn on the headlights the motor would slowly die or when I rolled down the window the motor would die. After this experiance I learned that factory alternators suck!Tell the Snap-On guy I'm not here!

the manual for the Orion 2500d also recommends adding a second ground to the battery...

My Crossfire Vr2000D would shut off when i had a 4 awg ground up front, i then upraged all my wires ( big 3) to 0 awg and no problems.2003 Chevy Avalanche,Eclipse CD7000,Morel Elate 5,Adire Extremis,Alpine PDX-4.150, 15" TC-3000, 2 Alpine PDX-1.1000, 470Amp HO Alt.

usually the suggestion to add an additional ground wire is simply to create sufficient current capacity to ground at the battery.  Companies make that suggestion rather than that you replace and upgrade the existing battery cable because it is easier (and safer for them to suggest than altering your OEM wiring) that's all. Support the12volt.com