Amp install question -- Audio guru's?
 

So I have wire pretty thick wire to power the amp ,I think it is an eight gauge. I was wondering if the negative or 'ground' wire had to be the same exact gauge? Does the ground wire go all the way back to the battery? it seems on my last amp I just screwed the ground wire to the chassis. This is an under the seat amp install.

Today I manged to slip with a drill and go right through the cone of a brand new speaker (!) I have never done that in all my years of installing 30 or more speakers! Sheesh, Kind of a crap day.. Professional help is sometimes worth it.

Sorry if this question is insufferably naive this is only my second amp install...


Thanks for any and all help on this.

8 gauge seems too thin to me. I use 1 or 2 gauge.

Do not run the ground back to the battery. Make the ground as short as possible and ground to the chassis.

HaH! BTDT. mark the spot for the hole, remove speaker, drill hole. I feel for ya.

Ditto what Legion said, just ground to the chassis somewhere close. 8 gauge will prob work, but if it's a big amp, maybe a trip to get something a little beefier might be worth it.

Maybe PM bell and see if what he has to say. He forgot more about it than we all know.

Yep, I was hoping he would chime in and actually explain the things that I said. :cool:

Bell is the dude from Ohio? Got good info from him when I did the P car amp and speakers , all which work flawlessly. (Well there is a slight buzzing noise some times)

Okay, shortest wire possible, chassis ground, I remember now.. thanks!

if amp ground is at battery or battery chassis lug the starter amp load ground may be sought at the amp circuit blowing the amp.

i believe the amp chassis ground should be at least 2 ft away from battery chassis ground lug to prevent blown amps.

Hey Ronin,
Yeah this amp is going under the seat of my VW, should be fine in that case. Good to know.


Enjoyed reading about your x-country trip.

Without knowing the amp draw of the amp it's hard to say, but assuming you're just driving a set front door separates eight gauge is likely more than enough. Yes you should use the same gauge but you don't have to go back to the battery with it (though that can sometimes help if you have a ground loop noise issue).