Subwoofer amp install- tips?
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Update: I started to prepare for my amp install this weekend. I started to look for a grounding point under the drivers side second row.
I took out one of the seat bolts and sanded the seat bracket down around the hole + I sanded down the contacting face of the bolt.
Will this be good enough for a ground??
I hope this is what you guys were referring to when you said use a seat bolt for grounding.
I took out one of the seat bolts and sanded the seat bracket down around the hole + I sanded down the contacting face of the bolt.
Will this be good enough for a ground??
I hope this is what you guys were referring to when you said use a seat bolt for grounding.
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 645
Likes: 29
From: Toronto, Canada
At the very least you should sand ALL the paint off if you want to ground it to the seat but that's still not a very good ground.
The seat rail is painted and so is the floor of the truck so there is no bare metal touching between those two. The only bare metal in that scenario is the threads of the bolt.
The seat rail is painted and so is the floor of the truck so there is no bare metal touching between those two. The only bare metal in that scenario is the threads of the bolt.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
At the very least you should sand ALL the paint off if you want to ground it to the seat but that's still not a very good ground.
The seat rail is painted and so is the floor of the truck so there is no bare metal touching between those two. The only bare metal in that scenario is the threads of the bolt.
The seat rail is painted and so is the floor of the truck so there is no bare metal touching between those two. The only bare metal in that scenario is the threads of the bolt.
After digging through threads it seems like a lot of people have grounded their amps to the seat bolt...I'm assuming the same way I'm doing it? I don't really see another way.
Hopefully someone will respond who has done the same thing or something similar.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,287
Likes: 0
From: Fraser Valley
I removed the 2nd row entirely for my installation, sanded down the bottom of the seat bracket and the top of the body where it bolts to, and sandwiched my ground lug between the two. I'm running a 360 watt 4 channel speaker amp in that location.
For lower wattage applications you should be fine, if you aren't getting enough ground the amp will cut out and stop playing for a second or two and you will notice it. If that happens turn it down some until you correct it.
For lower wattage applications you should be fine, if you aren't getting enough ground the amp will cut out and stop playing for a second or two and you will notice it. If that happens turn it down some until you correct it.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,838
Likes: 106
From: Martinsburg, WV
My my 300.1, grounding to the seat bolt is just fine. I didn't even sand, and I push it hard. If you are going high power (~600+) as mentioned above, you will want a good solid metal to metal ground. I would lift the carpet and make one. But don't go too far for it, a long ground can introduce noise into the system, like an antenna. I like to keep my total ground length under 15" max.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
My my 300.1, grounding to the seat bolt is just fine. I didn't even sand, and I push it hard. If you are going high power (~600+) as mentioned above, you will want a good solid metal to metal ground. I would lift the carpet and make one. But don't go too far for it, a long ground can introduce noise into the system, like an antenna. I like to keep my total ground length under 15" max.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
That's what I'm trying to do!
Has anyone done an install like I showed in my pictures??
Has anyone done an install like I showed in my pictures??
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 645
Likes: 29
From: Toronto, Canada
I don't mean to come off as a dick, but....
Who cares how many people do it the seat bolt way. It is NOT a proper ground period.
I have personally had a pretty scary experience with a grounding issue and I wasn't running any crazy high power amp. (It was an old school Soundstream Continuum for anyone that is interested)
Another fun fact about bad grounding. If your ground should happen to come loose for any reason it will make super cool sparks each time it touches metal and it won't blow the power fuse. This is the same way that arc welders work. We've all heard about people welding with a 12v car battery and a coat hanger when stranded right? No amp necessary
Ask me how I know...
Who cares how many people do it the seat bolt way. It is NOT a proper ground period.
I have personally had a pretty scary experience with a grounding issue and I wasn't running any crazy high power amp. (It was an old school Soundstream Continuum for anyone that is interested)
Another fun fact about bad grounding. If your ground should happen to come loose for any reason it will make super cool sparks each time it touches metal and it won't blow the power fuse. This is the same way that arc welders work. We've all heard about people welding with a 12v car battery and a coat hanger when stranded right? No amp necessary
Ask me how I know...
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 829
Likes: 22
From: Florida
Find a good spot on the chassis and place your ground. DO NOT use this bolt. That would not be smart. It's never convenient to do something correctly, but it will give you safety and piece of mind.
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 722
Likes: 13
From: ramsey mn
Curious as to what is sooooo bad, if the paint is cleaned away from the floor and the seat bracket
That connection will be fine. As far as sparks flying and bursting into flames how often do seat bolts come out to let the wires flop around to arch that bad. BUT on the battery end I would add an equal gauge wire from the battery to the chassis
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
68bluebeast
1997 - 2006 Expedition & Navigator
5
Oct 10, 2012 04:58 PM
1yamman350
Audio & Video Systems, Navigation, Satellite Radio & Mobile Electronics
2
Jan 25, 2004 11:12 AM
svn2002s
Audio & Video Systems, Navigation, Satellite Radio & Mobile Electronics
4
Jan 5, 2004 09:19 PM