ground question?
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=12441
Printed Date: May 03, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Topic: ground question?
Posted By: equalizir
Subject: ground question?
Date Posted: April 19, 2003 at 9:31 PM
hi guys,just wanted to know for a multiple amp setup can i use one ground point?or do i have to have three separate ground points?
Replies:
Posted By: esmith69
Date Posted: April 19, 2003 at 11:50 PM
I always just use a single grounding point and have never had problems
Posted By: Dan M C
Date Posted: April 20, 2003 at 7:22 AM
Just get yourself a distribution block and ground them all there (similar ground block to the power one) then sand a spot somewhere in your car and you are done.
Dan 
Posted By: equalizir
Date Posted: April 20, 2003 at 7:20 PM
hi dan,im kinda confused on the grounding from the distro block.i have an rf 3 four gauge with 4 8 gauge out.you mean i can use one of the 4 gauge inputs to use as a ground?then i would'nt have to ground from the amps or should i ground also from the amps just in case?
Posted By: Cletis
Date Posted: April 20, 2003 at 7:23 PM
I think what dan is talking about is using a seperate distribution block for your grounds. Hook up each of your amp grounds to the dist. block then run 1 or 2 heavy guage wires to ground. That way you don't have a bunch of wires going everywhere, it looks good too it you wire it neatly.
Posted By: esmith69
Date Posted: April 20, 2003 at 9:07 PM
yes equalizir you are correct. Just try to forget that the 4-gauge connection on the distro. block is usually used (and might even be labeled) as the input hookup. The distro. blocks will work in either direction, and in your situation the 4-gauge connection will really be the block's output, and it will run to a ring terminal that's screwed in to your grounding point on the vehicle's chassis. The four 8-gauge connections are really gonna be the distro block's inputs. Each 8-gauge connection on the distro block will run to its own amplifier and connect to the ground connection on the amp.
Posted By: Blazermedic
Date Posted: April 21, 2003 at 1:10 AM
Just to add my ridiculous 2 cents to this one, I've done the same thing, with 3-8 AWG wires going in to the "wrong" side of the D-block and a 2AWG wire going to the ground. Works fine for me. I just stuck in a few fuses rated at the same ones from my power block, and can't find any problems out of the ordinary so far.
CTW
MECP Sales
Posted By: Blazermedic
Date Posted: April 21, 2003 at 1:12 AM
Hey, to add another question: Are seat mounting posts bolted directly to the chassis? My buddy and I are in an argument right now...he says no and I say yes.
Posted By: Big Purds
Date Posted: April 21, 2003 at 6:27 AM
blazer, it depends on the car...most do but I believe I have seen some that dont...it would make sense and I would say your claim is more the norm and his more the exception...
and yes, using distro blocks is a wonderful way to tie up your grounds...very clean and cosmetic as well as being 100% functional and utilitarian...I have used separate distro blocks for a long time now and have never had a problem...
one other thing Blazer, why would you fuse your grounds? I think that kind of limits the system and is unnecessary...if your positive leads are fused then they are already the weak spot in the system...I think that you are really doing more harm than good by having 2 fuses in the same circuit...you always want your ground to be at least equal to and usually greater than your power...I typically use larger wire for my grounds, especially at the distro block...by fusing the ground, you totally negate any benefit of doing this...
just my personal opinion...
Posted By: Powerslave0
Date Posted: April 21, 2003 at 6:33 AM
I have used the SEAT, and SEAT BELT bolts for ground points in some strange apps for other people. Like above, most are bolted to the body.
Posted By: esmith69
Date Posted: April 21, 2003 at 10:03 AM
I was just gonna note that you don't need to use a fused distro block for the grounding portion of the amp setup. If you got an amp kit like this one it will have both types of distro blocks. Here's a closeup of what I'm talking about. The big one all the way to the left is the fused one for power and the little triangle thingy is the unfused one for ground. If you must use a fused distro block for the grounds, I'd say try to find the biggest fuse that will physically fit in the holder, or even better, try to rig up something that completes the circuit between each little metal clamp that normally holds down one end of a fuse.
Posted By: Blazermedic
Date Posted: April 21, 2003 at 11:06 AM
Hey guys, I know that you don't need to fuse the ground. I have an Audiobahn ground block on backorder, so this is just a temporary thing. Believe me, I'm a big fan of using as few parts as possible to complete an install, especially in my own truck.
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