Voltage and Grounding Question

[litefoot]

I have a question; I have looked at some of the threads on The Hyper Ground System and Hyper Voltage System. Is the Vibe’s Voltage and Grounds that unstable? I want to install a ham radio max draw is 20 amps, a GPS system /navigation system max draw 10 ampsand the AUX2CAR and ABGM12, if it will work with my stock radio. My question is; Do I need to have a Hyper systems? If so, has anyone built their own ground system? Or does anyone have digital copy of the installation manual. I am thinking, I may try to build something close to it. From what I have been reading, I thinking it is a good idea to get the 560 CCA battery, if I don’talready have it. How do I tell if I have the 310 CCA or 560 CCA? I did not see any marking on the top of battery. Is it is on one of the sides of the battery ?

[joatmon]

ullbergm has a ham radio and a bunch of other gear wired into his vibe, reach out to him to see if he has had to do anything special for power/grounding. Just based on the 20A radio, 10A GPS, and the other stuff probably isn't a killer power draw, I wouldn't think you'd need to do much to provide extra special grounding to deal with it. Maybe if you run into interference problems, noise in the audio systems.Odds are that if you have a 2004, then you have the 310 CCA battery. I have an 03, my battery is labelled on the top

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[litefoot]

Thanks joatmon, I was hoping that was the case. I normally run 6 gauge wire straight from the batteryto my equipment using a relay. With a 90-amp alternator I thought I would be safe. The alternator in my truck is 100 amps and I have no problems. Reading the threads talking about grounding issues made me wonder. I wanted to ask, and not find out the hard way. In the morning I am going to check the battery again, I did see the Delco label, maybe my hold downbracket is covering it.

[Jahntassa]

6 Ga seems like a bit of overkill, considering I regularly use 8 ga for amplifiers pushing 200 watts (up to 60 amps). Your CB probably could use 14-16 ga if you wanted to. But for what you're doing? You probably don't need to do much. The Voltage system just stabilizes the voltage of the car, while the ground system just gives a better ground to the entire car. In my case, as I have some hefty stereo equipment, I put in newer grounding cable. In the end, no, you shouldn't have to for what you're doing.

[ragingfish]

I have a ton of crap running -- nothing too high drain (YET!!!! ) but have found no need for aftermarket voltage or grounding cables.

[litefoot]

Jahntassa, when you said, you put in a newer grounding cable. Do you mean a better quality of cable or a heavier gauge cable? And this is just the battery to ground.

[Jahntassa]

Heaver / Better quality. I replaced the stock grounding (which I think is two 8 ga cables, one to chassis, one to the tranny) with all 4 ga cables. I have one 4 ga to the chassis under the battery, one to the tranny, which then goes up to the engine, and one that bounces to the pass side of the chassis.

[Wimperdink]

Just out of curiosity... were you having grounding problems or speaker noise or something of the sort to need the additional grounding? 4 guage is pretty overkill much less adding more lines. just curious thats all

[Jahntassa]

300 watt 4ch amplifier, and a 350watt subwoofer amplifier. Plus overkill on the electronics. Outboard EQ, XM, Neons, etc. It just allows everything to flow more freely. Supposedly it can give you a 1-2hp gain, but I did it more to keep the electronics happy.That, and I had the 4ga sitting around, and I was really bored one afternoon...

[Wimperdink]

I understand. I'm loaded down with electronics too. Sub amp, cb, laptop computer, reverse sensing system, gps, xm reciever, amoungst other gizmos that go beep, toot, and burp when i turn the key on. though I never got bored enough to add ground wires, maybe I will now. I'll have to add some L.E.D.'s now to catch up with the times.

[litefoot]

I have to apologize I made a mistake it was 10 gauge not 6 gauge.I took off the battery hold done bracket and it is a 310 CCA.Are these the ground spot you are talking about, Jahntassa, Side bar; How do I post a jpg in a posting, and not as an attachment?Did I do this right?

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