Ground Wire for the amp??

[SR240DET]

what is the ground wire when you install a amp??? and where would you usally place a ground wire? thanks.. and sorry i know its not really 240sx related

[HaLo]

The ground wire is to complete the electrical circuit. &nbsp;It's not really an amp thing, but an electric thing. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

As for where grounding it: any bolt or screw that touches the body of the car. &nbsp;If it doesn't, the amp won't work.

[SR240DET]

hmm... whoa... thanks for clearing that up for me Halo... with out your help i would be sitting in my trunk till midnight figuring out why my system is being difficult. thanks again.. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'> &nbsp; <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

[HaLo]

I finished my set-up yesterday... My ground is on a tail-light bolt. &nbsp;Lots of the bolts on the trunk floor are isolated. &nbsp;be careful. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

anyways, you'll see. &nbsp;The best way to check if you have a good ground is with a multimeter. &nbsp;If you need any help, don't be shy to ask any questions... I have 3 amps running on my 240sx. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

[geeaj]

Don't ground it to the tail light bulb. For any high amperage connection, you should run heavy gauge wire and locate a new ground mount.

Your amp ground cable should be as "thick" as your hot cable. I'm guessing 6/8 gauge at least. Easiest thing to do is find solid metal that you can drill into, scrape off some paint, and use a self tapping to temporarily secure. Then take your voltmeter and take a reading to see if you get 11+ volts. It if checks out permanently secure.

Shitty grounds cause static and amp whine.

[SR240DET]

you guys are great help.... im installing a 600 watt pioneer GM-X922 amp... so all i need to do is scrape off some paint off the surface on any part of my trunk thats solid metal... and use a screw to bolt down the ground wire... will that work?? thanks guys

[HaLo]

I didn't ground it to a tail light bulb, but to the bolt that holds the tail light piece. &nbsp;No sound problems here.

[BlackFox]

In my '76 Mercedes I have it grounded to the rear firewall, just picked a bolt and hooked it up. Fatty 4 gauge. A lot of people ground to their rear seat belt anchors, just unbolt it and attach an 0-ring crimp (or something secure) and bolt it back. Yeah, you want to try and get the connector to touch bare metal (part of the frame of chassis)
The frame of the car is the ground (for some cars it's the other way around, but that's rare)

Have fun with your sound &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>