ground help

trigx5 04-08-2003, 12:03 PM

I am trying to figure out the best to wire my amp as far as the ground is concerned. Here's the problem. The amp needs to go in the front of the boat to stay dry but the battery is all the way in the back, about 12-15 away. I thought I would have to ground to the battery but that seems way to far...any suggestions?

(salty87) · (salty87) **Join Date: Jul 2002** 04-08-2003, 12:50 PM

not ideal but the battery is grounded to the engine block. on mine, there is a bolt on the water pump (or the alternator bracket, i can't remember w/o looking) that also grounds the negative from the battery.

can you move the battery up front?

(sandbag) · (sandbag) **Join Date: May 2002** 04-08-2003, 2:14 PM

A second battery up front is also a good idea if you don't already have two batteries.
In my boat I have a lot of electronics associated
with the engine so I had to run 0awg ground wire between the batteries as well as to the amp to get rid of engine noise.

(jroyal) · (jroyal) **Join Date: Jan 2003** 04-08-2003, 2:37 PM

So, is grounding to your battery as good as grounding to the engine block? (I'm currently wiring my amps and would like to know.)

Thanks.

xtigeman 04-08-2003, 2:54 PM

Ground to battery.

(leetudor) · (leetudor) **Join Date: Oct 2001** 04-08-2003, 6:18 PM

You need to get your power and ground from the battery.

trigx5 04-08-2003, 7:03 PM

isn't the ground wire not supposed to exceed 3ft or so?

(bob) · (bob) **Join Date: Feb 2001** 04-08-2003, 9:19 PM

not if you use the right size wire
http://www.boatus.com/boattech/cable.htm

mbsteve 05-19-2003, 4:46 PM

I RUN TWO AMPS,BOTH WITH 17FEET OF 8 GAUGE GROUND WIRE TO THE BATTERY,WORKS GREAT.