do I need a second ground?

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=79218
Printed Date: May 18, 2024 at 3:32 AM

Topic: do I need a second ground?

Posted By: mech3
Subject: do I need a second ground?
Date Posted: June 16, 2006 at 10:03 PM

I have an optima battery and I am going to change the location of where I connect my amps to the battery. My battery by default connects to the alternator with the sideposts and what i am planning on doing is putting a platinum terminal on the positive top post and hook my amps to it. I am wondering if its necessary (or would benefit me) to run a ground from the negative top post to the same grounding point as the side posts. I thinking of running a 4-gauge secondary ground. Thanks for any info!

Replies:

Posted By: dwarren
Date Posted: June 16, 2006 at 11:21 PM

Can't hurt any thing to add a second ground, in fact it will be beneficial.

I'd recommend using a different grounding point from the stock point. Like scraping some paint off the frame some where (closer the better).

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Posted By: aznboi3644
Date Posted: June 17, 2006 at 12:24 AM

I put a new ground on my battery...about 6 inches of the new sweet kicker wire and the voltage doesn't drop as low and lights hardly dim.

Posted By: mech3
Date Posted: June 17, 2006 at 7:26 AM

using a second grounding point wont cause a ground loop will it?

Posted By: aznboi3644
Date Posted: June 17, 2006 at 10:11 AM

Shouldn't

Posted By: mech3
Date Posted: June 17, 2006 at 11:41 AM

Well, I went ahead and did it with the second ground about 4 inches long and it seems to have really helped out the system. Thanks for the replies

Posted By: m3xciao6
Date Posted: June 19, 2006 at 2:20 AM

whatt is a ground loop?

Posted By: shorgasm
Date Posted: June 19, 2006 at 3:33 PM

My boat uses 20'+ of 4 ga and 20'+ of 8ga for ground..I too consider another ground wire...boats are a bitch as they have no ground other what is wired..I had a tremendous ground issue at 1st with using factory ground points for the deck and amp...it would cut power to my deck at barely listening level.I since went with the 8ga and should probably upgrade to 4ga back to the batts..whatta think?..It performs fine but I get a little dim in the HU lights.

Alpine HU and Kicker ZR360.Wide open.

Posted By: aznboi3644
Date Posted: June 19, 2006 at 9:44 PM

I'd say replace the 8ga ground with 4ga ground.

Normally you should have same gauge power and ground wires.