Simple ground wiring question
500 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 633
Do you have a multimeter? If not buy one, they are a must and relatively cheap. If you do have one meausure the DC voltage of your battery... if it is a lead acid battery and reads below 10 volts, then most likely you will need a new one... Once you fully discharge a lead acid battery, consider it a paper weight, at most they have a 5 year shelf life. If your battery is okay, maybe you have a bad battery connection or a bad ground in your engine compartment. If you can start your car you could also measure the battery voltage with the car running, with the car running the voltage is produced by the alternator and has to run above 13 volts or so in order to charge your battery. If your alternator is good it will read somewhere between 13 - 14.5 volts.
I have personally upgraded the big 3 on every car I have owned with a system, less resistance = less voltage drop... the less voltage drop, the less strain on every part of your electrical system... When your car was built they used the least gauge of wire they could get away using and they did not leave extra room for your amplifer. I have seen 8 ga power wire on a 120 amp alternator... 4 ga is rated for 125 amps!!
read up on bcae1.com
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I have personally upgraded the big 3 on every car I have owned with a system, less resistance = less voltage drop... the less voltage drop, the less strain on every part of your electrical system... When your car was built they used the least gauge of wire they could get away using and they did not leave extra room for your amplifer. I have seen 8 ga power wire on a 120 amp alternator... 4 ga is rated for 125 amps!!
read up on bcae1.com
word
Thread Starter
0 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 22
thanks for the reply man I do have a voltage meter and Im going to double check with my dad what my alternator is putting out...what if the alternator is putting out 12 volts would that mean my alternator is bad? or does that mean i need to upgrade the wiring? I think its running 12...I just switched up the alternator as well and this one should be good...I might be wrong on the 12
I switched up my battery and now everything is fine, my lights still flicker but relatively small as apposed to before, my bass sounds good with the sub im using and the 450 watts, its not great but good, makes your body kinda shake finally.
(yes I switched both the alternator and battery!)
If I decide to keep this car I will 100% do the big 3 just for the life of the car, but jettas are pretty good cars especially the ive put it thru so im sure it can handle it for now....I was just never aware that the big 3 is one of the steps to adding a subwoofer to your car ..but understandble.
I switched up my battery and now everything is fine, my lights still flicker but relatively small as apposed to before, my bass sounds good with the sub im using and the 450 watts, its not great but good, makes your body kinda shake finally.
(yes I switched both the alternator and battery!)
If I decide to keep this car I will 100% do the big 3 just for the life of the car, but jettas are pretty good cars especially the ive put it thru so im sure it can handle it for now....I was just never aware that the big 3 is one of the steps to adding a subwoofer to your car ..but understandble.
Last edited by MistaSmokalot; Apr 25, 2010 at 03:41 PM.
0 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 33
You post a thread asking for help, myself and others give you insight on what you should do and its seems all your doing is whining , I don't want to do this I don't want to do that 
There a people on here with experience and know how, why don't you use it to your advantage. Maybe do some research on wire oxidization /resistance, and on current in general then you may have an idea why we say what we do. You say doing these upgrades in turn will **** my old car up, I know it. You know what, you don't know sh*t !! period!!
There a people on here with experience and know how, why don't you use it to your advantage. Maybe do some research on wire oxidization /resistance, and on current in general then you may have an idea why we say what we do. You say doing these upgrades in turn will **** my old car up, I know it. You know what, you don't know sh*t !! period!!I am by no means a mechanic or electrician when it comes to vehicles. But I did the big 3 and I'm glad I did! I have no experience wiring a vehicle, but I read a few really good how-tos and did it myself. I noticed an improvement immediately after doing the big 3. My lights never dimmed before the big 3, but every forum I've been on and even places that install systems will tell you its very important to do the big 3 upgrade. I upgraded my big 3 to 0 gauge wire. I bought around 10 feet of 0 gauge for $8 a foot, so after taxes it roughly came to $93 altogether. Well worth it in my opinion. My truck seems to start better and obviously my battery, alt and system have benefited from the upgrade. You can't mess up your vehicle by upgrading the wiring. Thats just retarded.
No kidding. He asks for help and then basically refuses it!
I am by no means a mechanic or electrician when it comes to vehicles. But I did the big 3 and I'm glad I did! I have no experience wiring a vehicle, but I read a few really good how-tos and did it myself. I noticed an improvement immediately after doing the big 3. My lights never dimmed before the big 3, but every forum I've been on and even places that install systems will tell you its very important to do the big 3 upgrade. I upgraded my big 3 to 0 gauge wire. I bought around 10 feet of 0 gauge for $8 a foot, so after taxes it roughly came to $93 altogether. Well worth it in my opinion. My truck seems to start better and obviously my battery, alt and system have benefited from the upgrade. You can't mess up your vehicle by upgrading the wiring. Thats just retarded.
I am by no means a mechanic or electrician when it comes to vehicles. But I did the big 3 and I'm glad I did! I have no experience wiring a vehicle, but I read a few really good how-tos and did it myself. I noticed an improvement immediately after doing the big 3. My lights never dimmed before the big 3, but every forum I've been on and even places that install systems will tell you its very important to do the big 3 upgrade. I upgraded my big 3 to 0 gauge wire. I bought around 10 feet of 0 gauge for $8 a foot, so after taxes it roughly came to $93 altogether. Well worth it in my opinion. My truck seems to start better and obviously my battery, alt and system have benefited from the upgrade. You can't mess up your vehicle by upgrading the wiring. Thats just retarded.
Big 3 is one of the best things to do to a vehicle............ period.
Last edited by IT Hz; Apr 26, 2010 at 08:04 PM.
500 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 633
