Amp help
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,186
Likes: 45
From: detroit area
i always ran two grounds..... 1 to the frame and 1 to the battery... this will help in creating a ground loop so you don't get any noise from the engine/alternator..... also, the ground wire should be the same size if not bigger than the hott..... make sure your ground is good..... if not the amp with over heat and you can fry it......
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Why don't you contact someone like Crutchfield? They have plenty of experience and good advice for installing car stereo equipment. I have been buying stuff from them for probably 25 years and they have always been an outstanding company to deal with.
Rick B.
Rick B.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Ground loops are BAD. You avoid them by tying all your stereo and amp grounds togeather at 1 commom ground point, closest to the battery as possible...(the battery ground point on the frame under the battery compartment is ideal).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,186
Likes: 45
From: detroit area
why r they bad? i have always ran an amp distrobution block where my amps would tie into then i would feed two out..1 to the frame and 1 to the battery.... this was an extra precaution that i would do. sure, u can be fine with just the frame but have you actually checked your ground from the battery to the frame.... most people don't and assume that it is good.... sure, i might be enough to keep the car running but once you and the audio setup then u might have issues. also, u never run the radio ground and the amp ground to the same spot.... if possible, run the rca cables on one side of the car and the power on the other.... this helps to avoid the whine/hiss that some people might hear..... also, run the right size gauge wire for the amp... most of the time 10 gauge will do for a typical amp but 4 gauge is recommended for the bigger amps...also depends on the terminals on the amps..... and fuses....... one trick also is that if u are using rca's that have expossed metal on the ends, electrical tape them up..this will help in any loose wires/debri from cause interference down the road.....
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
O.K..... a ground loop is bad..why? A ground loop is created when two devices, grounded a two different locations, create a voltage IN the grounding material itself. This can create noise and other undesireable side effects. One common ground prevents these stray currents.