Grounding your Amplifiers

King220 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:51 pm

I'm going to wait till the off season to install the new sound system on the boat... I'm wondering if all of you who have amplifiers used a ground wire that goes all the way back to the - terminal on your battery? Or have some of you chosen to ground your amps somewhere else on your boats?

I'm going to mount a 6 channel JL M6600 on the starboard dash wall (bow access).

Help would be appreciated.
Thanks,

Blessed · **Posted:** Wed Sep 02, 2009 8:14 am

H210 with the JLM6600 mounted in the SBoard bow cubby; and yes, I did run a ground back to the battery. Bloody wire was a lot more expensive than I anticipated but I'm happy with the result and have had no issue with the install.
We went out on a parade of lights (movie theme) as Gilligans Island and had the theme song on the IPod. I am told we could be heard clear through the center lake - long before the boats could be seen. Damn. Now I got that stupid song stuck in my head again. :roll:

Sounds like you are going to set up like a bunch of us did last year -here's how mine went . . .

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2125&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=stereo

Handfull of guys went the same or very similar ways with some sweet installs around the same time but it's been awhile and you'd have to search them out unless they happen by with thier own links.

BrentC5Z · **Posted:** Wed Sep 02, 2009 8:43 am

With that amp, you will definately need to run a ground to the battery. Check out using welding cable vs. audio stuff. Much cheaper.

240 Joe · **Posted:** Mon May 10, 2010 4:24 pm

I just put in a new Exile amp, Exile tower speakers, and a Wet Sounds WS-420 Equalizer. I highly recommend them all. My installer gave the following reason he went back to the battery for the ground cable:

Both the amplifier’s power and ground cables are connected directly to the battery, this is done for a couple of reasons. 1) From an acoustical and clarity stand point, it assures the “cleanest” possible power and ground for the stereo. A stereo, in nature, is one big antenna, and can easily pick up unwanted “noise” and static that is naturally found in electrical circuits, which in turn is heard from the speakers. When doing a ground-up stereo install, I recommend that the stereo head-unit share the same power and ground as the amplifier, this takes it one step further to prevent noise and static. In your particular install, the Wet Sounds WS-420 EQ is sharing the same power and ground as the new amplifier. 2) The other reason to connect directly to the battery is due to the current draw of the amp. The size/gauge of the factory wire running to the ground block, or BUSS BAR as they are commonly called, did not take into account the added load of a stereo amplifier drawing anywhere from 50 to 100 amp of current.

I am no expert but the above sounds correct to me.

pet575 · **Posted:** Mon May 10, 2010 4:57 pm

Considered this when I did mine. "Temporarily" connected it to a good spot at the helm with the intent to go directly to the battery if necessary. Never became necessary-still sounds great.

Jim_R · **Posted:** Thu May 13, 2010 7:13 pm

Positive and negative leads all the way back to the battery for me. Put a 50 amp circuit breaker on the positive lead as close to the battery as possible too.

07H200SS · **Posted:** Fri May 14, 2010 9:28 am

Brent87LT1 wrote:

With that amp, you will definately need to run a ground to the battery. Check out using welding cable vs. audio stuff. Much cheaper.

+1. I am using 2ga. welding cable from Grainger. We stock it at work so I had easy access to it. The part number I believe is 6X777 from Grainger.

JCF204 · **Joined:** Sun Apr 25, 2010 7:38 pm **Posts:** 29

I am going to install a new amp tonight after work, last night I was reading the manual and it says not to run the ground more than 3ft or 1 meter. What would be the reason for this vs running it back to the battery?

I have an F204 and there is a handy spot to mount the amp in the same location as the Sirius stuff just in front of the steering wheel. Behind the dash.

When doing car stereos, I always found the best, closest ground to the amp. Maybe on a boat this is different since there is no frame to mount to etc?

Any thoughts?

BrentC5Z · **Posted:** Fri May 21, 2010 10:04 am

You are correct. The engine is the ground. The only true ground. You can throw the 3' from the amp rule out in marine applications. Even the common ground under your dash is really just a long cable that leads back to the battery/engine.

JCF204 · **Joined:** Sun Apr 25, 2010 7:38 pm **Posts:** 29

Brent87LT1 wrote:

You are correct. The engine is the ground. The only true ground. You can throw the 3' from the amp rule out in marine applications. Even the common ground under your dash is really just a long cable that leads back to the battery/engine.

Excellent, thanks Brent. Now to get those Polks ordered...

BrentC5Z · **Posted:** Fri May 21, 2010 10:51 am

Why would I step down to those?

Mine:

RMS Watts: 100
PEAK Watts: 200
Frequency Response: 40Hz to 20Khz
Sensitivity: 90db at 1watt / 1meter
Mid Bass: 6.5 inch composite cone woofer with rubber surround.
High Frequency: Coaxially mounted Titanium Tweeter
Size & Weight
Weight: (pair) 7.8 lbs (pair) (5.53 kg) <---- Yes! 4 lbs each!

Sealed Box: N/A
Diameter: 6.8 inches w/grill (172.72mm)
Mounting Depth: 3.1 inches (78.74mm)
Hole Cut Out: 5.0 inches (127.00mm)
Note:
All specifications are for each XS-650

BrentC5Z · **Posted:** Fri May 21, 2010 10:52 am

Oh! my bad. Thought you said, "now get those polks ordered"

JCF204 · **Joined:** Sun Apr 25, 2010 7:38 pm **Posts:** 29

It's all good, I need to replace the stock Sony's, but since I have a amp sitting in my garage doing nothing, thought I would put it in tonight and get some speakers asap.

www.iFourWinns.com

Grounding your Amplifiers

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