Common ground blocks

kenstewart
kenstewart Posts: 139
edited March 2006 in Car Audio & Electronics
Obviously I've been busy on this site :) Gonna install in the next week or so, so I want to be sure I get all my info straight before I blow something up :)

I'm using 4 ga wire for two amps, possibly a cap (dunno after all the neg stuff I've read about caps). Most of the ground blocks I see are 4 ga in and 8 ga out. I 've seen some that say one 4 ga in and two 4 ga out so here's the silly question. Are the "outputs" still useful as "inputs" ... meaning can I ground both amps (cap too if I install it) to the three different ports (one input, two output) of the block? The manuals call for 4 gauge on both power and ground wires.

Ok, few laughs expected but please someone explain for me so I can do this right. Thanks ...
Eclipse CD8445 HU
Image Dynamics CXS54 Chameleons component setup
Two 8" Image Dynamics ID8D2v.3 subs
MTX MXA6001 amp for subs
MTX MXA3002 2-channel amp for comps
Accumat and Peel-n-Seal
Stinger and Knukoncpetz wiring
Post edited by kenstewart on
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Comments

  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited March 2006
    No, the output is what runs to the ground. The block itself isnt a ground.

    You run your 2 ground wires from the amp to the ground block which in turn connects them both to the main wire which then runs to ground. Thus the 2 inputs (from the amps) and the 1 output (to the ground). Its just the reverse of the power distribution block.

    And no, you dont need a cap. Youd be better served spending that money on an Optima Yellow Top battery.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • kenstewart
    kenstewart Posts: 139
    edited March 2006
    I've gone crazy reading post after post on caps, but majority do say to not worry about it.

    Distro block ... so you're saying that we're reversing the terms used for this distro block? Meaning, the single "input" on this block will be the ground wire going to the chassis and the two "outputs" are what actually "receive" the amp ground wires?
    Eclipse CD8445 HU
    Image Dynamics CXS54 Chameleons component setup
    Two 8" Image Dynamics ID8D2v.3 subs
    MTX MXA6001 amp for subs
    MTX MXA3002 2-channel amp for comps
    Accumat and Peel-n-Seal
    Stinger and Knukoncpetz wiring
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited March 2006
    Right. You have a ground point, from that you run a wire to the dist block which then splits into 2 wires which run to each amps ground input.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • kenstewart
    kenstewart Posts: 139
    edited March 2006
    Cool, thanks Mac. So, I'll sell my cap to someone on Ebay and use this T ground distro block for my two amps. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5850494927&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT
    Eclipse CD8445 HU
    Image Dynamics CXS54 Chameleons component setup
    Two 8" Image Dynamics ID8D2v.3 subs
    MTX MXA6001 amp for subs
    MTX MXA3002 2-channel amp for comps
    Accumat and Peel-n-Seal
    Stinger and Knukoncpetz wiring
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited March 2006
    Sounds like a plan.

    You might want to look to sounddomain.com for that dist block. They have em on there for about $10 plus theyre a fully authorized dealer.

    http://www.cardomain.com/shoplist~b~Stinger~t~Distribution+Blocks
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • kenstewart
    kenstewart Posts: 139
    edited March 2006
    Even better! Thanks Mac, you just saved me some money. Much appreciated :)
    Eclipse CD8445 HU
    Image Dynamics CXS54 Chameleons component setup
    Two 8" Image Dynamics ID8D2v.3 subs
    MTX MXA6001 amp for subs
    MTX MXA3002 2-channel amp for comps
    Accumat and Peel-n-Seal
    Stinger and Knukoncpetz wiring
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited March 2006
    Thats my job! ;)
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • PoweredByDodge
    PoweredByDodge Posts: 4,185
    edited March 2006
    stinger = good and cheap... no better combination of traits on earth. if only i could find women like that.

    i use strictly stinger and lightning audio blocks and terminals.... why ? because they're no better and no worse than anybody else's stuff... they're dirt cheap compared to the competition, and they're actually often more simple and functional than the competition.
    The Artist formerly known as PoweredByDodge
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  • exalted512
    exalted512 Posts: 10,735
    edited March 2006
    knukonceptz=shiznit
    -Cody
    Music is like candy, you have to get rid of the rappers to enjoy it
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  • CrBoy
    CrBoy Posts: 580
    edited March 2006
    PoweredByDodge wrote:
    stinger = good and cheap... no better combination of traits on earth. if only i could find women like that

    I think we all are after the same, don't we? ;)

    Mac... is it better to use a distro block for the grounds or just ground all the amps to the same point? is there a difference? :confused:
    <|>
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  • PoweredByDodge
    PoweredByDodge Posts: 4,185
    edited March 2006
    distro block = cleaner looking... but really isn't any different than grounding them all to the chassis individually (or at the same point - doesn't matter - its all the same hunk of steel).

    When using massive amounts of juice, i like to use a distro block and then a nice fat cable from the block to a "grounding foot" which is just a little block of steel with a nice recepticle for the wire and a big old honkin footprint of contact with 3 or 4 screws to get a nice solid connection to sheetmetal.
    The Artist formerly known as PoweredByDodge
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited March 2006
    Yeah, other than appearances, there is no differnce.

    I have both my power and ground wire ghetto rigged. I stipped 6" off the end of my 4 guage power wire and 4-6" off the end of each 8 guage amp power wire and then wrapped them around each other really well and duct taped the **** out of them. Same with ground. It works and I have no connection or noise issues. Ill never win any installation competitions tho.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • kenstewart
    kenstewart Posts: 139
    edited March 2006
    I got the Stinger 4 ga in/out distro block from the link Mac gave me. Hope all my gear gets here by Friday so I can do my install this weekend.:D
    Eclipse CD8445 HU
    Image Dynamics CXS54 Chameleons component setup
    Two 8" Image Dynamics ID8D2v.3 subs
    MTX MXA6001 amp for subs
    MTX MXA3002 2-channel amp for comps
    Accumat and Peel-n-Seal
    Stinger and Knukoncpetz wiring
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  • PoweredByDodge
    PoweredByDodge Posts: 4,185
    edited March 2006
    MacLeod wrote:
    I have both my power and ground wire ghetto rigged. I stipped 6" off the end of my 4 guage power wire and 4-6" off the end of each 8 guage amp power wire and then wrapped them around each other really well and duct taped the **** out of them. Same with ground. It works and I have no connection or noise issues. Ill never win any installation competitions tho.


    you're not serious are you????????

    that's not good at all.

    fix it dude -- you've got an 800 dollar component set and you're ghetto rigging with ducttape on power cable?? c'mon.
    The Artist formerly known as PoweredByDodge
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited March 2006
    Been doing it for years. Never had an issue.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • PoweredByDodge
    PoweredByDodge Posts: 4,185
    edited March 2006
    *vomit*
    The Artist formerly known as PoweredByDodge
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  • neomagus00
    neomagus00 Posts: 3,899
    edited March 2006
    PoweredByDodge wrote:
    *vomit*
    hehe... c'mon, mac, it's not that hard to do it right... :p
    It's not good, very fundamentally simply not good. - geolemon

    "Its not good enough until we have real-time fearmongering. I want my fear mongered as it happens." - Shizelbs
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  • 1996blackmax
    1996blackmax Posts: 2,436
    edited March 2006
    WOW

    :confused:
    :eek:

    Mac, I cannot believe that. I hope you are just kidding man...........


    Man ........................ Get it fixed if you are not joking bro.
    Alpine: CDA-7949
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited March 2006
    I run my wires under the carpet and dont want a big dist block under the carpet, plus those things aint that hard to pull loose.

    Splicing the power wires together and taping the hell out of them works just as well. Im not competing in SPL so I dont care if I lose .01 volts. They are taped up well so that theyre well insulated, not likely to be cut and arc out and they aint gonna be pulled apart.

    Whats the big deal? Yeah it aint pretty but so what. You cant see it anyway. Ive been doing this for several years and on several systems and have NEVER had any issues whatsoever. Never had a fire, never had a meltdown, never had anything get stipped and arc out, NADA! I dont get why you guys are having **** attacks over this. :confused:

    **edit

    I think I get it now. Are you guys tripping over the "duct tape"? If so, it is not duct tape, it is actual electric tape. Ive just always called it duct tape for no good reason. But rest assured, it is NOT the silver duct tape that Im using.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • neomagus00
    neomagus00 Posts: 3,899
    edited March 2006
    no, it's cause it's TAPED WIRE... in an AWARD-WINNING VEHICLE... no matter whose... :D
    It's not good, very fundamentally simply not good. - geolemon

    "Its not good enough until we have real-time fearmongering. I want my fear mongered as it happens." - Shizelbs
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited March 2006
    But its a SOUND QUALITY award winning vehicle, not an INSTALLATION award winnning vehicle. Besides, you cant see the wires anyway. ;)
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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