Ground & Power Block
- Thread starter dwk270
- Start date
Jarred J.
Lifetime VIP Donor
depends on what your wiring where.. light heads get grounded near where you install them. console mounted or other similar items that would be installed close to each other could be a ground/ power block. radios and other specified equipment go straight to battery if instructions specify.
Last edited:
NoLimitSquads
Member
Its all in the installers preference. If wire cost isn’t a concern, you can run all of your grounds to one spot, and you can make one main power stud with a breaker near the battery. This will allow you to easily disconnect all of your accessories with the push of a button. If you are only adding a few things, then it might be easier to ground your wires near the lightheads, and run power wires directly and fused at the battery. I prefer all of my fusing, grounds, and power in one place. Then if you should ever have to troubleshoot, everything is in one place, nice and easy.
This is how I build full squad cars.
This is how I build full squad cars.
Jarred J.
Lifetime VIP Donor
its not good to run every single ground to one place.. its called resistance... easy sure.. safe... questionable. keep grounds short as possible...
bring on the butthurt.
bring on the butthurt.
NoLimitSquads
Member
Lol! There is absolutely nothing wrong with it as long as your wires can support the load. Most light heads are drawing less than one amp. I use a minimum of 16 guage wire, and none of those wires are longer than 15 feet. Resistance is not an issue. If you know how to do math, you will be just fine.
NoLimitSquads
Member
Not everything in that car is grounded on that one stud. All my front end lights are grounded near the battery. And all of my dash and console equipment are grounded in the console. The grounds on that board are only lights in the rear, and the equipment on that board.
When grounding, do you always use a screw? Or is there another method?
Would love to be able to understand this photo more. Always more learning...
So this would be your ground?
Jarred J.
Lifetime VIP Donor
That is a ground stud..the wood isn't a ground.
I use whatever factory bolt is closest.. strip the paint under it and add wire in a split or eye connecter
I use whatever factory bolt is closest.. strip the paint under it and add wire in a split or eye connecter
NoLimitSquads
Member
Yes, what Jarred said. That is a ground stud. I run a heavy guage, usually 6g,(a very short cable to a good ground). Grind the paint so your terminal ring makes good bare metal contact. If you are running grounds near your lighthead, still always grind the paint where you put your ground. You can use a self-driller screw to attach your terminal. If it is in a location that will be subject to oxidation or rust, I will hit it with a coat of spray paint after its secure, just to seal it from rust. If you are ever unsure of your ground, use a multimeter, and hook one end directly to the ground on your 12v battery and the other to your ground, and check the resistance using the continuity, or ohm resistance. That will tell you how good your ground is.