Installing a new amp / radio / speakers - Where do you ground?

[samm835]

My boat currently has a standard radio and four speakers. I am looking to save some money by installing a newer radio, amplifier myself. It's something I can handle, but I have never done it.....so I just have a couple of questions. When people install their amps where are you grounding them? It's a little different when pretty much everything is fiberglass on a boat. I have a 21ft runabout I/O, the radio and amp are going to be located under/near helm area. Any help is appreciated.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Installing a new amp / radio / speakers - Where do you ground?

Depends on the size of the amp. I would probably run a dedicated ground and power back to the battery and have a fuse right at the battery. Amps, depending on power, can require more current than what the fuse panel can provide. The size of the wires for the amp itself may need to be larger than what is currently feeding the panel.

 

[samm835]

Re: Installing a new amp / radio / speakers - Where do you ground?

Bruceb58, thanks. I am not going to run the amp (750watts) through the fuse box. I was planning on running the power back to the battery with a fuse at/close to the battery like you suggested. The cables will need to be a decent gauge(not sure yet) because there is about 4 to 5ft to the batteries(Dual w/perko). The amp needs to be hard grounded to something so I just wasn't sure best place. Thanks again

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Installing a new amp / radio / speakers - Where do you ground?

You can just ground them on one of the battery posts of the batteries. I assume they already have large cables that connect both batteries together.

 

[Joel_CA]

Re: Installing a new amp / radio / speakers - Where do you ground?

I too recently upgraded my head unit and speakers and added a single 5 channel amplifier to run my entire system. I'm running a Kicker KXM800.5 mounted vertically at the helm and ran dedicated 4ga cables for power and ground all the way back to my 2nd battery (this battery is dedicated to my audio system and other powered accessories that are used when anchored down out in the water with the engine off). I have a battery combiner/separator that separates both batteries allowing them to discharge at different rates when the engine is off, but combines them when the engine is running so that both will receive a charge.

Joel