Running power cables.

[PizzaRoll]

well im planing it all out before i even start to install anything... just so i dont end up ****ing up... so power cables.. i have 2 questions... would a 2 AWG be thick enough wire to run a 400rms and a 600rms amp off of.. i would be running it to the back. and also which is the best path to take to get the wires there? i have looked in by the fire wall.. but if the wires are pulling enough power im afraid that i will get to much crosstalk among the otherwires.

also the trim strip that is down by the seat.. there is a rectangle tray that has a big thing of wires in it.. i was thinking to try and run it though there.. but im not relaly sure what the other wires are doing. if you know plz let me know.

Damn.. one more thing... i take it's not safe to ground 1000watts to the car body. correct?

 

[beavis195]

Originally posted by PizzaRoll

Damn.. one more thing... i take it's not safe to ground 1000watts to the car body. correct?

Where else would you ground it? The battery is illogical, that's a lot of wasted wire.

 

[X24]

I'm no expert but 2g wire should do the job without a problem. I have 2ft. of 4g wire going into a distribution box to run my 600W amp, power inverter, and dual lamp foglights. I didnt think you had to worry about noise in the power wire. I thought the RCA wires and the remote wire were the only ones. I ran my 8g power wire for my amp down the drivers side where you are talking about. About the fire wall... this is how I did it in my 98: pull down the carpet that goes up behind the pedals. then you will see some black foam stuff that is there. There is a hole (about 1" dia.) in the black foam and you can see the firewall. That is where I drilled my hole. (your 97 may be different so make sure the other side is clear before you drill) Be sure to use a gromet. I grounded my 600W amp to the body. Your only other option is to run a ground wire to the neg. terminal on the battery which is connected to the body anyway. Good luck!

 

[PizzaRoll]

i may go a head and run a line back to the battery just for the fact of i dont like have 1000watts RMS running loose in the body of the car.. and if i can keep it confined then less of a chance i have of frying something.. just so i can pinpoint the power flow.. and after a while.. and a hellofa lot of money.. i plan to buy a 2nd battery with relay, for playing while the car is off and also a better alternator. so haveing the system isolated would be good.

 

[X24]

but isnt the battery ground cable connected to the body anyway? so even if you ran all the way back to the battery, you will still be grounding to the body, right? I'm not sure what you are worried about frying. Just as long as you disconnect the neg battery cable when you work on your system and stuff you will be fine. Having a loose power wire with the battery still connected could be bad news.

 

[PizzaRoll]

the body is grounded. and is able to take the power back to the battery. but you are able to keep you eyes on where the power is flowing... i guess you could compare it to the 110/220/440 electrical grid that is run in the us.. there is 2 ways to run the power back to the power plant. either by hammering a 4 foot copper rod in to the ground or by sending it back though the wire... the reason why they hate you sending it back though the earth.. is that it pulls electrons out of the metal pipes, in the ground and will over a course of time will destroy the pipe.. so the question is could this happen in the car? and that would answer the question.. and if you think im bullshitting, you just go ask the power company.

 

[X24]

Like I said before, I'm no expert. Now you got me interested in that question.

 

[leenjen]

i have installed systems with over 4000 watts rms and have always grounded to the vehicle. it is recommended by every amp manufacturer the you ground the amp as close to the amp as possible. usually less then 2 ft.

 

[PizzaRoll]

ok... just a thought.

 

[Mbrooks420]

The longer the ground, the less the power flows. The body is grounded directly to the battery anyways, so you're good as long as you use a solid grounding point. I ran my power wire through the grommet above the pedals. I've never heard of picking up noise through the power wire, only the RCA's but I may be wrong.

 

[PizzaRoll]

like i said im just planing this all out before i touch the car.. i rather measure 2 and cut once instead of cut once and cuss twice

 

[Brian's98XLT]

The battery is the worst place to ground your system. The battery ground is the noisest place to ground. A good clean chassis ground will do you just fine.
You may want to upgrade your ground cable on the battery to a larger cable.