Smokin Joe

I've always followed the convention of the 18" ground rule for car audio. I want to re-wire my amp, but I'm toying with running a ground to one of the chassis ground points by the passenger door (B pillerish). It would make the ground wire approximately 4 feet. I was going to use 4 AWG cable for the ground.

Is this a bad idea? Will it work?



This thread is also posted in C5 tech.

Kale

I've done it without any issues. Shorter is better, less resistance.

Be mindful of gauge. 4 AWG pure copper should cover most conventional aftermarket setups.

reath1

As long as the ground is sized for the load and has good connectors it will be fine.

Smokin Joe

Thanks!

Mike Beck

My positive and negative cables both go right to the battery, no issues at-all.

IRON MAIDEN

Where is your amp/s mounted?

I bored a hole out the rear of the tub big enough to fit a 1/0 gauge ground wire. Sealed up nicely with a rubber grommet.
Looking through the inner pass tail light opening, there is a wire harness passing over the frame with two push in harness anchors. I just removed one of them and re-adjusted the wire harness. Good to go. I just slipped my drill through the tail light and bored out the hole in the frame a bit. Then tapped it for a 13mm bolt. Good to go.

Mike Beck

My amps are mounted right under where the convertible top rests when down:

IRON MAIDEN

What about the upper seat belt bolt? The big Torx bolt. That would be a good ground. What size wire is that? 12 gauge? You should at least run some 8 gauge if that isn't. Those are big spade terminals, you could easily fit larger wire, especially if you terminate them with spade connectors.

XtremeVette

People have been known to have used the seatbelt bolt. Some say works, some say they have gotten ground loops. Always make sure your wire size for the ground is equal to or greater then the positive. I too have always gone 18" or less but if your in a pinch or are troubleshooting a ground loop and are seeking an alternative point to ground to, you can always try it and see if it works. Worst thing is that you get noise in which you have to keep looking for a better ground. Can always put a multimeter on it too to check for resistance.