Grounds and Power for Multiple Amps

[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

Is it safe to use a distro block for 3 amps to ground them?

I have a main 4 gauge run of power wire. I cant fit 1/0 in my car the moldings are too tight against the car. I have my sub amp (Cadence Z1200) and Ill have 2 Kicker ZX150.2 or a Kicker ZX150.2 and a Kicker ZX200.2 depending on what I can find. The Kickers only accept 8 gauge. I was wondering if its safe to have a distro in the trunk where my ground is to run that to each amp and also have a distro for the power wire.

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[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

ttt

 

[bw_audio 10+ year member]

..

 

[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

If you want to go ahead and do it then by all means come and do it.

 

[bw_audio 10+ year member]

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[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

Gr

 

[tr10av 10+ year member]

Good question I'm thinking about doing that as well.

 

[DNick454 10+ year member]

I would say 4 gauge is the minimum you'd want for one amp. I would definitely not recommend 3 amps drawing off a single run of 4 gauge wire. You need to run some 1/0 awg wire at all costs unless we're talking about some really low powered amps.

 

[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

Got a Cadence Z1200 and will have possibly 2 Kicker ZX150.2s.

 

[DNick454 10+ year member]

Hmmm I'd highly advise running 1/0 if at all possible. There's gotta be a way to sneak some 1/0 awg through there. The time it takes to properly run some 1/0 will be time saved in comparison to replacing fuses on a daily basis or worse... having the wire fail.

 

[Sarthos 10+ year member]

Run 1/0 wire for power and I would recommend against using a ground distribution block. It just means running more wire for the ground rather than just grounding it to the frame right away. Unless you're planning on running a ground from the battery in front to the back, otherwise just ground the wires separately.

 

[smoka 10+ year member]

As long as the wires aren't excessively long, its better to ground everything at the same place. Grounding at the same place means less chance for a ground loop (engine whine).

 

[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

It will be less than 36" for each piece. Grounds will also be all 4 gauge.

 

[mat3833 10+ year member]

couldnt you run a ground wire back to the trunk from the batt? if 1/0 will fit through my car there has to be a way to make it fit in your car. plus, having a wire fail is not fun, caught my old car on fire from using too small of a wire....

Matt

 

[theMessenjah44 10+ year member]

Under the car FTW