Ground Wire
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=37083
Printed Date: May 15, 2024 at 1:36 PM
Topic: Ground Wire
Posted By: silverbullet_00
Subject: Ground Wire
Date Posted: August 09, 2004 at 9:01 PM
Just a quick question here. Dows the ground wire for an amp have to be a certain size or can I use any wire for a ground?
Replies:
Posted By: chucksnee
Date Posted: August 09, 2004 at 9:04 PM
What are you running?
The question you gave was a very vague.
Tell us what you have and you will get a better answer.
You will get alot better answer that way.
Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: August 09, 2004 at 9:08 PM
The ground wire has to be at least the gauge of the power wire.
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Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.
Posted By: Chad7n7
Date Posted: August 10, 2004 at 12:21 AM
Also you want to make sure to make your chassis ground to bare metal, to prevent having any resistance, which also helps prevent the annoying engine whine.
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Posted By: silverbullet_00
Date Posted: August 10, 2004 at 4:20 PM
stevdart wrote:
The ground wire has to be at least the gauge of the power wire.
Thanks. That is the answer I was looking for. I didn't know if it could be smaller then the power or not that is why I didn't fill in all the info about the amp.
Posted By: 94legend
Date Posted: August 10, 2004 at 5:14 PM
silverbullet_00 wrote:
stevdart wrote:
The ground wire has to be at least the gauge of the power wire.
Thanks. That is the answer I was looking for. I didn't know if it could be smaller then the power or not that is why I didn't fill in all the info about the amp.
No, it has to be the same, no more or less, You'll have your amp choking. But..... there are some cases that are exceptional.
Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: August 10, 2004 at 7:04 PM
94legend, we are going to have to hire someone to follow you around and correct the misinformation you're spreading around! "You'll have your amp choking"? You can have a ground wire as big as you want, as long as it is at least as large as the power wire. Now do I have to keep repeating that?
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Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.
Posted By: /R7
Date Posted: August 10, 2004 at 7:09 PM
no because i was even going to mention that ;o
Posted By: tylertime
Date Posted: August 10, 2004 at 8:09 PM
the ground can be as big as you want, truthfully...electron theory is that electrons flow from negative to positive but like a pipe full of water...if you want what goes in, to come out at the same rate... its gotta be open the same amount on both ends
Posted By: silverbullet_00
Date Posted: August 10, 2004 at 10:49 PM
94legend wrote:
No, it has to be the same, no more or less, You'll have your amp choking.
But..... there are some cases that are exceptional.
That's what I already agreed to. My ground wire is the exact size as the power wire. In fact, I grabbed some industrial electrical wire from work last year and the ground and power are the same wire. I was only having a prob with it when putting in my cap because it does not bend very well from of its size. I did get everything working properly today. Thanks for all the replies.
Posted By: Germanesma
Date Posted: September 07, 2004 at 10:15 AM
And what could happen if right now I am using this:
Power wire: 8ga
Ground Wire: 10ga Is strictly necessary make the change? ------------- Eggs putines!
Posted By: heavilymedicate
Date Posted: September 07, 2004 at 11:11 AM
1. You should use a ground wire equal to, or larger than you power. 2. No, I would not pull the fuse out of the power, or even stop using the amp with a 8/10 ratio for the wires. Why be cheap though? What will a foot or two of 8 guage ground wire set you back? A buck? Ummm, maybe two? 3. Having a good ground wire, that is as short as possible, is just as important as having the right size. In your case I would be more worried about length, and a good grounding surface, then the fact that your wires are alittle off.
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