Amp Ground Lenght?

[FASTERDAMITT]

According to every amp I've seen they alway say ground at less than four feet. What will happen if I mount the amp in the cabin bulkhead and run the ground twenty feet back to the battery? I've seen it done many time, but...

[Havasu Hangin']

The reason that they say that is for car installations. Since the car chassis is bigger than any cable you could buy, they recommend you find the nearest grounding point.
A ground wire in boat is a different story- since fiberglass doesn't conduct, it has to go back to the batteries. Use the same gauge/length it takes to get power to the amp from the battery.

[FASTERDAMITT]

Thanks.

[86 catalina]

I have been building custom boat systems in high end boats for about 5 years...and yes you can run your amp that far no less than 4 guage stranded

[86 catalina]

havasu is out of his cabesa...spanish 4 head...ha ha

[86 catalina]

call 4 info or help............

[ROZ]

I have been building custom boat systems in high end boats for about 5 years...and yes you can run your amp that far no less than 4 guage stranded
Just 5 years? youngin... :D

[86 catalina]

stick to the point rozzzzzzzzzzz..damitt needs our help

[ROZ]

Use the same gauge/length it takes to get power to the amp from the battery.
Well okay then...
What he said :D

[Havasu Hangin']

5 years? Hell...I've got electrical tape older than that.
No less than 4 gauge stranded? What if his amps gonna draw 200 amps?
I'd say your five big years of experience may have just started a fire in his boat...but what do I know?

[Tom Brown]

No less than 4 gauge stranded? What if his amps gonna draw 200 amps?
I was thinking the same thing. It's tough to spec cable with no idea of the current it will be required to carry. ... since carrying current is what wire does, it ought to come into play when you specify the size of the conductor.
I'll also chime in support for the suggestion to use the same size cable for ground as for the main power lead. :cool:

[riverbound]

I have been building custom boat systems in high end boats for about 5 years...and yes you can run your amp that far no less than 4 guage stranded
5 whole years :rolleyes: Wow..... we could learn a thing or two from you.

[riverbound]

I was thinking the same thing. It's tough to spec cable with no idea of the current it will be required to carry. ... since carrying current is what wire does, it ought to come into play when you specify the size of the conductor.
I'll also chime in support for the suggestion to use the same size cable for ground as for the main power lead. :cool:
at least he was smart enought to say "no less" than 4 guage. but I love when people spec stuff and havent asked the obvious questions like. what kind of amps etc.... :rolleyes: Looks like he might need a couple more years of experience. :rolleyes:

[Tom Brown]

Looks like he might need a couple more years of experience. :rolleyes:
I wonder if our young friend is a big Rockford Fosgate fan. :idea:

[riverbound]

I wonder if our young friend is a big Rockford Fosgate fan. :idea:
That would be a redeeming quality if he was :D

[Beer-30]

Faster, just post what amp you have, and all can get a better idea of current. Also what speakers you will be running. I wouldn't ax you to advise ohms and stuff, just the amp will get all pretty close.

[phebus]

My advice is to just go big, that way if you upgrade your amps at a later date, you don't have to run new power and ground cable.
Power, whether it be engine or stereo (or being a moderator), is something your never happy with, and I guarntee you'll want more in the future.

[Beer-30]

That's good advice. I am just going to run 1/0 power and ground to the amp area. It can always be reduced at the amp location, but not enlarged.

[phebus]

That's good advice. I am just going to run 1/0 power and ground to the amp area. It can always be reduced at the amp location, but not enlarged.
Yep, 1/0 to the distribution blocks, and then the sufficient wire size for your particular aplication should do ya, unless your a real big baller, and one 1/0 feed isn't enough. :220v:

[Beer-30]

Yep, 1/0 to the distribution blocks, and then the sufficient wire size for your particular aplication should do ya, unless your a real big baller, and one 1/0 feed isn't enough. :220v:
In which case, you just run another pair of 1/0! Problem solved! :crossx:

[1stepcloser]

5 years? Hell...I've got electrical tape older than that.
No less than 4 gauge stranded? What if his amps gonna draw 200 amps?
I'd say your five big years of experience may have just started a fire in his boat...but what do I know?
Quiet you...
You're out of your cabeza.... you egotistic internet wire jockey. :boxed:

[Havasu Hangin']

Quiet you...
You're out of your cabeza.... you egotistic internet wire jockey. :boxed:
That guy's 5 years of experience is right about one thing- I am "out of my cabesa"...
...but that has nothing to do with boat audio. :messedup:

[86 catalina]

Any of you yahoo's m.e.c.p. certified....i didnt think so...i am ..5 years was how long i was at a shop..been building custom systems alot longer...And iv'e yet to see any amp smoke a 4 guage stranded wire(if its wired the correct way)regardless of amp size>Althogh i would not run any amp, 4 guage or not in mono (1 ohm stable ) just step up to a bigger amp and run subs in stereo....by the way m.e.c.p stands for mobile electronics certification program.......

[Havasu Hangin']

..And iv'e yet to see any amp smoke a 4 guage stranded wire(if its wired the correct way)regardless of amp size>Althogh i would not run any amp, 4 guage or not in mono (1 ohm stable ) just step up to a bigger amp and run subs in stereo....by the way m.e.c.p stands for mobile electronics certification program.......
I smoked a 2 gauge cable with a single amp once...but I don't have 5 years experience, either.
Just curious...why would you run subs in stereo?

[86 catalina]

yeh you got me there....again( if installed correctly)

[OutCole'd]

I smoked a 2 gauge cable with a single amp once...but I don't have 5 years experience, either.
Just curious...why would you run subs in stereo?
Obviously you are not m.e.c.p. certified or you would not have such a dumb question..... :)

[Havasu Hangin']

yeh you got me there....again( if installed correctly)
Oh it was installed correctly (just ask the db meter).
:D
Why would you install subs in stereo?

[Havasu Hangin']

Obviously you are not m.e.c.p. certified or you would not have such a dumb question..... :)
I also have a library card...
...but that doesn't necessarily mean I know how to read.
:D

[86 catalina]

didnt ask the question just replied to it mr cole'd

[Havasu Hangin']

didnt ask the question just replied to it mr cole'd
So why would you install the subs in stereo?

[Beer-30]

Ok, All attitudes aside; why would you just want to stay stereo on the subs? I'll listen to anything once.

[86 catalina]

depending on subs makes the amps stable less load on wiring etc...

[Beer-30]

depending on subs makes the amps stable less load on wiring etc...
Well, of course, but that could also still be attained by just running 2 or 4 ohm, still mono. That doesn't answer the stereo vs mono question.

[Havasu Hangin']

depending on subs makes the amps stable less load on wiring etc...
How does stereo make the amp "more stable"?
And why on Earth would anyone recommend a class a/b stereo amp for subs in a boat?
I'm just trying to learn...

[86 catalina]

Dear diary today i was on the hot boat site and was trying to help answer a few questions for a fellow boater >>>.Instead i had a 60 yr old guy try to tell me how to install stereos systems.ha ha ha ha ..I wanted to tell him to stick with geritol,and pepto....but instead i am just going to drop it..Because that would be the right thing to do...........NOW CANT WE ALL JUST GET ALONG> And stick to trying to help others.

[Havasu Hangin']

Dear diary today i was on the hot boat site and was trying to help answer a few questions for a fellow boater >>>.Instead i had a 60 yr old guy try to tell me how to install stereos systems.ha ha ha ha ..I wanted to tell him to stick with geritol,and pepto....but instead i am just going to drop it..Because that would be the right thing to do...........NOW CANT WE ALL JUST GET ALONG> And stick to trying to help others.
Look you young whipper-snapper...I'll challenge you to a wheelchair race any day you want! You young kids think all us Wal Mart greeters are just old and senile. Well, I may be senile...
...but at least I don't run subs in stereo 'cause "the amp is more stable"!
:cry:

[86 catalina]

thanks for a good sense of humor u seem like a cool guy...Next time i have any questions i will make sure i look you up c ya

[Havasu Hangin']

...Next time i have any questions i will make sure i look you up c ya
Don't ask me anything...I'm not M.E.N.S.A. certified.
However, the Bacardi and Geritols are on me at Havasu!
http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/character/character0072.gif

[ROZ]

Any of you yahoo's m.e.c.p. certified....i didnt think so...i am ..5 years was how long i was at a shop..been building custom systems alot longer...And iv'e yet to see any amp smoke a 4 guage stranded wire(if its wired the correct way)regardless of amp size>Althogh i would not run any amp, 4 guage or not in mono (1 ohm stable ) just step up to a bigger amp and run subs in stereo....by the way m.e.c.p stands for mobile electronics certification program.......
mecp... I know of peeps without the cert who've come in to slap and iasca only to walk away with the prize :D
It's only a selling point and good on resume if you're going from shop to shop...

[FASTERDAMITT]

Wow, you all are so helpfull! :D If I could only remember what my original question was.. Oh ya. I'm runnin a Kicker 700.5 five channel 85x4 @ 2ohms and 425x1 @ 2ohms. Four Polk DB650's and Kicker 10" CVR sub.

[ROZ]

Wow, you all are so helpfull! :D If I could only remember what my original question was.. Oh ya. I'm runnin a Kicker 700.5 five channel 85x4 @ 2ohms and 425x1 @ 2ohms. Four Polk DB650's and Kicker 10" CVR sub.From + on battery or common on perko run a 2ga power wire to a 100amp anl type fuse or a 100amp circuit breaker within the first 18" of the power source. From there run the 2ga power wire to a distribution block near your amps. You could use fused distribution if you like...Output 4ga power wire to your amps. You're amps are likely 50amp for your sub amp and 40 amp for your multichannel stereo amp...
Your ground goes from a battery's negative 2ga up to your ground distribution , and goes out 4ga to your amps' ground....
There ya have it... :D
You could use 1/0 instead of 2ga if you like.. Least resistance :)

[Havasu Hangin']

From + on battery or common on perko run a 2ga power wire to a 100amp anl type fuse or a 100amp circuit breaker within the first 18" of the power source. From there run the 2ga power wire to a distribution block near your amps. You could use fused distribution if you like...Output 4ga power wire to your amps. You're amps are likely 50amp for your sub amp and 40 amp for your multichannel stereo amp...
Your ground goes from a battery's negative 2ga up to your ground distribution , and goes out 4ga to your amps' ground....
There ya have it... :D
You could use 1/0 instead of 2ga if you like.. Least resistance :)
Yeah...what he said.*
* Due to less than 5 years experience with marine audio systems, Hot Boat is not responsible for the accuracy of this post. Please consult your local m.e.c.p. certified technician for more details.

[Beer-30]

I'm runnin a Kicker 700.5 five channel 85x4 @ 2ohms and 425x1 @ 2ohms. Four Polk DB650's and Kicker 10" CVR sub.
So, the 2ga will be plenty. Your Polks are 4ohm, so you will only 45-50x4. Dunno if you CVR is dual voice coil or not, but lets say it is a dual 4ohm, so it can end up 2ohm. If it is a single 4ohm, you will be down in the 250-300 range from the amp.

[FASTERDAMITT]

Dual 4ohm sub. Wiring the biatch right now.

[Beer-30]

Dual 4ohm sub. Wiring the biatch right now.
So, wire those parallel and you will be 2ohm.

[FASTERDAMITT]

It rocks!

[Beer-30]

It rocks!
Cool. Good for you. Let everything break-in before you rail on it.

[Havasu Hangin']

It rocks!
Congrats!
Cool. Good for you. Let everything break-in before you rail on it.
Break in? Hell...I break my stuff in taking it out of the package. After that...flog the hell out of it!

[FASTERDAMITT]

Cool. Good for you. Let everything break-in before you rail on it.
Uh... Too late. Thanks guys!! :rollside:

[ROZ]

Now we need pictures! :D

[FASTERDAMITT]

Sure.

[Phat Matt]

Don't ask me anything...I'm not M.E.N.S.A. certified.
However, the Bacardi and Geritols are on me at Havasu!
http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/character/character0072.gif
Go ahead and ask me. MENSA did ask me to join their club a while back. :rollside:

[ROZ]

Go ahead and ask me. MENSA did ask me to join their club a while back. :rollside:
Okay, are there outerspace time zones? If so, what time is it on Pluto?