thicker ground cable
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 107
From: Reading, Pa
Car Info: 2003 WRX
thicker ground cable
I want to get some info here. I was going to swap out the factory ground wires for some thicker wire. I have access to a mess load of 4 gauge wire and I thought that some thicker grounds would be beneficial for the car. I run about 3000 watts of power to my audio. I have a red top in now, and the lights still dim when heavy bass hits. Also, I don't have a layout of the engine, so.......does anyone have a diagram of where the factory grounds are and where new grounds would be best run?
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 107
From: Reading, Pa
Car Info: 2003 WRX
um.....i have a 10 farad cap. the only thing left is to change the alternator. i just wanted to know if changing the ground wires is anyway beneficial for the car. i can easily fix the light problem by taking out the system. that's not my main concern. thanx for the feed though.
a cap is a like a band aid for a oozing wound.
first and foremost is a higher output alternator.
imprezer said in another thread that a canadian v6 alternator from an outback or forester has the highest output from an OEM subaru.
first and foremost is a higher output alternator.
imprezer said in another thread that a canadian v6 alternator from an outback or forester has the highest output from an OEM subaru.
Guest
Posts: n/a
to answer your original question, yes new grounds would help. Replacing the stock grounds always helps, especially when drawing that many amps. One 4 gauge to the starter casing and another to a good chassi ground shoud be sufficient. Make sure you get a good clean connection to the chassi, meaning no painted surfaces, and you should be fine on the ground side.
Jason
Jason
VIP Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 179
From: Farmingdale, NY
Car Info: 2004 Impreza 2.5TS
You have a couple of options
1. Get rid of that 10F cap and pick up a couple of normal 1F caps instead.
2. Get a second battery
3. get a high output alternator (may void warranty)
The larger caps tend to add to voltage problems rather the help them. (personal experience)
They have a high internal resistance that causes the voltage to drop during charging and discharging. The smaller caps (1f - any brand) have a lower internal resistance and when you wire a couple of them together it gets even lower so they work faster and more efficient then the one big cap.
For a 3000w system you only need 2-3 farads the rest if just waste full.
Avoid the caps with built in volt meters. they can have the same effect.
Also upgrade the battery to chassi ground, the rest do not matter for the audio system.
1. Get rid of that 10F cap and pick up a couple of normal 1F caps instead.
2. Get a second battery
3. get a high output alternator (may void warranty)
The larger caps tend to add to voltage problems rather the help them. (personal experience)
They have a high internal resistance that causes the voltage to drop during charging and discharging. The smaller caps (1f - any brand) have a lower internal resistance and when you wire a couple of them together it gets even lower so they work faster and more efficient then the one big cap.
For a 3000w system you only need 2-3 farads the rest if just waste full.
Avoid the caps with built in volt meters. they can have the same effect.
Also upgrade the battery to chassi ground, the rest do not matter for the audio system.
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