Need suggestions on electrical system fixes and upgrades

[Bassman999 10+ year member]

Im wondering if the 800 watt kicker amp wasnt stressing the car how can the xplode? Maybe the alt is wearing out. Maybe the Kicker is just more efficient and the battery(s) and wiring will be enough. Either way the wiring is a MUST for any car with a system imo. I have always ran at least 2 batteries in my systems too, even when I only ran 1000 rms. Hopefully you dont need a new alt and you can get away with wires and batt upgrade.

 

[deepdespair 10+ year member]

The dedicated ground gave me almost a full volt back at full tilt. To me that would be a very good reason to run it. If you want to run your stuff at higher voltage, which leads to longer product lifespans, then run the dedicated ground.

Looks like I will be running a new ground then, thanks! Couple questions though:

1. Would I connect the newly run neg from the batt directly to the ground on the amp?

2. Is it okay to use 8 gauge power wire (since it's already there) to my amp or should I swap it for a 4 or 2?

3. Are the ground and power wires coming from the battery okay to be run next to each other? I have the left rear speaker wire ran on the far left of the car, the right rear speaker wire ran on the far right, the rca from the preout on my deck for the amp running about 4 inches left of center to rear, and the power and remote wires ran 4 inches right of center to rear. If possible I want to run the ground along the same path as the power and remote wires to minimize interferance with the speaker wires.

Thanks again for all the advice.

 

[Etac 10+ year member]

you can connect the amp ground to the battery ground, but it will require alot more work, more wire, more money, just find a solid place in the trunk.. and run a good ground from the battery to the chassis

 

[Bassman999 10+ year member]

4 awg minimum

 

[loopkiller 10+ year member]

If you decide to run the dedicated ground, simply mirror what you run for the power side. So if you run 4 gauge power to a distro, then run your ground the exact same way. And yes you can run the power and ground right next to each other.

 

[Bassman999 10+ year member]

power and ground can be side by side as long as you fuse the positive wires and they are not frayed at all

 

[deepdespair 10+ year member]

Im wondering if the 800 watt kicker amp wasnt stressing the car how can the xplode? Maybe the alt is wearing out. Maybe the Kicker is just more efficient and the battery(s) and wiring will be enough. Either way the wiring is a MUST for any car with a system imo. I have always ran at least 2 batteries in my systems too, even when I only ran 1000 rms. Hopefully you dont need a new alt and you can get away with wires and batt upgrade.

I probably should have been more specific on my previous setup then... The 800 watt kicker was only at about 5/8 gain and was only run to a pair of roadmaster subs 350 watts a piece max, so it wasn't nearly as high as my new setup. It did stress the car until I got the 1 farad Rockford Fosgate cap, but I wasn't aware at the time how pointless caps are.

 

[deepdespair 10+ year member]

power and ground can be side by side as long as you fuse the positive wires and they are not frayed at all

No chance of fraying as they are tucked safe under the carpet away from any moving parts and feet. I plan on getting a glass fuse holder, but not sure what size fuse to get. Any recommendations?

 

[Bassman999 10+ year member]

we all learn from our mistakes. They marketed those caps well. I had some back in the day too. Dont tell anyone...lol

 

[Bassman999 10+ year member]

It depends on what you plan on upgrading to later

If you can afford it I would run 1/0 and get an anl fuse holder. That might be overkill, but you have alot of expanding room now for future system upgrades.

 

[deepdespair 10+ year member]

Lol, yes they did. And my friends telling me they were necessary didn't help much either. The fact that they stopped the dimming was another reason I thought I was safe because I couldn't see any potential damage that may have been done.

 

[deepdespair 10+ year member]

How many amps am I looking for fuse-wise?

 

[Bassman999 10+ year member]

Are you just running the one amp right now? 1200 watts, is that max or rms? If you are running the one amp only right now just fuse somewhere between the fuse rating on the amp and 100 amps

 

[Bassman999 10+ year member]

you can upgrade fuse size later as system expands, because anl fuses go as high as 300 i think.

 

[Bassman999 10+ year member]

those caps will work a lil if you have short spread out bass notes, but like doublebass notes and sh**, it will fully discharge and be another load for the poor alt.