Grounding to the battery after installing larger amps

[ejaffe]

For anyone that has installed an amp 1000w or more, how have you grounded your system to the battery? Any pictures? I have been looking to do the second upgrade and the recommendation for the Bronco based on the metals used is anything over 500W should be grounded directly to the battery. Let me know what you have done. Thanks

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[Snacktime]

Run grounds from he battery to the frame, body and use the biggest wire you can deal with(crimp). I usually would double what ever the power wire was for my grounds. I really miss my modified 1st generation Hyphonics Colossus. That amp would kill any sub, battery or alternator!

 

[Brian_B]

I wouldn't have an issue going to a steel frame member someplace. My 700W amp is grounded to the steel subframe that's under the dash (didn't want to pair it up with the telematics module that its right next to). The body in general ... I would be more specific. A lot of aluminum and/or rubber-isolated things in these that isn't going to be properly grounded.

That said, if you are running one cable, not that hard go ahead and run two while you are at it, so that isn't a bad option, especially if you are going big.

 

[ejaffe]

Run grounds from he battery to the frame, body and use the biggest wire you can deal with(crimp). I usually would double what ever the power wire was for my grounds. I really miss my modified 1st generation Hyphonics Colossus. That amp would kill any sub, battery or alternator!

I noticed there is already a ground wire running to the fender so I can connect there. I am running 1/0 power wire so I won't double it but the power line is fused and the ground isn't.

 

[ejaffe]

I wouldn't have an issue going to a steel frame member someplace. My 700W amp is grounded to the steel subframe that's under the dash (didn't want to pair it up with the telematics module that its right next to). The body in general ... I would be more specific. A lot of aluminum and/or rubber-isolated things in these that isn't going to be properly grounded.

That said, if you are running one cable, not that hard go ahead and run two while you are at it, so that isn't a bad option, especially if you are going big.

I wouldn't have an issue if I was running 700W but 2000W is a different story. I will look at the subframe under the dash though since I think there is a ground wire run from the battery to the firewall. I thought I saw that under the hood.

 

[BroncoDave24]

I noticed there is already a ground wire running to the fender so I can connect there. I am running 1/0 power wire so I won't double it but the power line is fused and the ground isn't.

If you use a factory ground point consider doing this. Put a nut on the underside of the ground bolt and use the extra threads sticking out as a stud. Double nut it if you want a good flat surface on both sides for your ground lug to mate with. This way you aren't interfering with the factory connection at all. I think they are standard pitch metric, either M5 if 8mm or M6 if 10mm.
The only downside may be confusion to an unwitting technician that needs to unbolt the factory ground.

 

[ejaffe]

I like this idea. I would like to assume a technician who sees a huge ground wire coming off the nut and sees a similar power wire coming off the battery may put 2 and 2 together.

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