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kenstewart
03-19-2006, 10:24 PM
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 ...
MacLeod
03-19-2006, 11:06 PM
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.
kenstewart
03-19-2006, 11:12 PM
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?
MacLeod
03-19-2006, 11:14 PM
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.
kenstewart
03-19-2006, 11:18 PM
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
MacLeod
03-19-2006, 11:21 PM
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
kenstewart
03-19-2006, 11:25 PM
Even better! Thanks Mac, you just saved me some money. Much appreciated :)
MacLeod
03-19-2006, 11:26 PM
Thats my job! ;)
PoweredByDodge
03-20-2006, 02:11 PM
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.
exalted512
03-20-2006, 02:20 PM
knukonceptz=shiznit
-Cody
CrBoy
03-20-2006, 02:27 PM
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:
PoweredByDodge
03-20-2006, 02:33 PM
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.
MacLeod
03-20-2006, 07:39 PM
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 shit out of them. Same with ground. It works and I have no connection or noise issues. Ill never win any installation competitions tho.
kenstewart
03-20-2006, 08:41 PM
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
PoweredByDodge
03-20-2006, 10:12 PM
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 shit 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.
MacLeod
03-20-2006, 10:12 PM
Been doing it for years. Never had an issue.
PoweredByDodge
03-20-2006, 10:31 PM
*vomit*
neomagus00
03-20-2006, 10:47 PM
*vomit*
hehe... c'mon, mac, it's not that hard to do it right... :p
1996blackmax
03-20-2006, 11:10 PM
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.
MacLeod
03-21-2006, 06:30 PM
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 ass 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.
neomagus00
03-21-2006, 10:39 PM
no, it's cause it's TAPED WIRE... in an AWARD-WINNING VEHICLE... no matter whose... :D
MacLeod
03-22-2006, 12:31 AM
But its a SOUND QUALITY award winning vehicle, not an INSTALLATION award winnning vehicle. Besides, you cant see the wires anyway. ;)