Electrical Ground

[kalanic]

Any good ideas for a good ground location for additional amp. I have a 2004 X-10 V-Drive.

[Ric]

Any good ideas for a good ground location for additional amp. I have a 2004 X-10 V-Drive.
either go with a big cable all the way to the battery post or there should be a nice large ground block under the instrument panel too.

[DanC]

Directly to the battery, or bring up your own distribution block directly from the battery. The distribution block under the dash will be too noisy and not supply enough current.

[Leroy]

I would run ground and +12 wires, expecially if the amp is high power.

[JimN]

Kalanic- add up the fuse values on the amp and post them here. You don't want to use cable that's too thin because the heat generated under heavy demand reduces the available voltage, causing earlier distortion, excessive heat and blown drivers and amps.

As was said before, run power AND ground to the amp directly from the battery. If the power cable is too heavy for the amp's terminals, use a distribution block and the appropriate cable. Remember, the effect of the sixe of the cable/wire is directly proportional to its length, so a short piece of thinner cable won't matter much while long runs will make good equipment sound like garbage. Make sure you don't bundle your audio cables and speaker wires parallel to power wires. If you end up with alternator whine, abandon the dash radio ground and run a new one to the same ground point that the amp uses. Noise filters usually cause more problems than they cure.

[kalanic]

Kalanic- add up the fuse values on the amp and post them here. You don't want to use cable that's too thin because the heat generated under heavy demand reduces the available voltage, causing earlier distortion, excessive heat and blown drivers and amps.

As was said before, run power AND ground to the amp directly from the battery. If the power cable is too heavy for the amp's terminals, use a distribution block and the appropriate cable. Remember, the effect of the sixe of the cable/wire is directly proportional to its length, so a short piece of thinner cable won't matter much while long runs will make good equipment sound like garbage. Make sure you don't bundle your audio cables and speaker wires parallel to power wires. If you end up with alternator whine, abandon the dash radio ground and run a new one to the same ground point that the amp uses. Noise filters usually cause more problems than they cure.
Im using a 100amp ANL Fuse & 4gauge wire. 1000watt amp.

[Leroy]

In addition to JimN's comments, a capacitor (1F-5F) near the radio might be necessary or help. You could wait until you have installed and then see if you have any problems.

[kalanic]

In addition to JimN's comments, a capacitor (1F-5F) near the radio might be necessary or help. You could wait until you have installed and then see if you have any problems.
I have a 1.5 Farad Capacitor