acceptable voltage drop

[Stel 10+ year member]

Why is it that people always recommend a "short" ground, or keep the ground as close as possible to the amp, why is this? I've run grounds around 12" from the amp, 3 feet from the amp and 15 feet from the amp and it's never made a bit of difference. As long as your ground is the same gauge as the power wire and has a solid contact with the body or battery terminal I can't see how it's going to make any difference. Anyone got a real answer to this, and not just a noob guess?

Voltage drop is caused by resistance in the wire, which is directly proportional to the length of the entire circuit. So a shorter ground of the same gauge should have less drop assuming the contact point is good.

Though sometimes to troubleshoot interference / alt wine issues a longer ground wire might be needed (to go to a different ground, common ground, etc).

 

[BoomBoomBoy 10+ year member]

Does you amp have a regulated or unregulated power supply. It really matters more with an unregulated power supply.