power distribution block ?

[mat_me]

Is there any reason why I cant use a power distribution block for my grounds? I have some 8 gauge wire from the battery to a dist.block for pos that i have a stryker 440 in and plan on plugging in a rm italy kl300p. right now I have the radio grounded to the metal of the dash, but a dist. block might keep things together if i need more than one ground? Any thoughts or experience would be appreciated. Thanks. :r&r:

[626]

thats a great idea. In fact thats what I do. Only instead of a power distribution block, I made a power distribution post.

[beef15]

Dist. blocks for power are great, especially the fused ones, I don't know why you'd want to use one for ground if your vehicle's body is metal, the metal framework inside your dash goes to the body, which is grounded, and that gives you a lot of options. If its a unibody vehicle upgrade the cable from the battery to the chassis, if you're pushing serious amps, the stock ground can take your starter which may draw as many as five hundred amps, that's allot of watts. If it has a frame, like most pickups and larger suvs, you probably should upgrade or add a cable or strap from the cab to the frame, it may use several small wires in the harness in lieu of this if its a later model, and i wouldn't trust those.

['Doc]

Can you use a dual terminal distribution block? Sure, why not. I have used such in two vehicles with no problems. The ones I use/used are 'different' though, they use 'Anderson Power Pole' connectors and the 'blocks' are designed for them. Not the cheapest way of doing things, but it sure is convenient!
- 'Doc

[mat_me]

Beef... I intend to run 8 guage wire from the dash to the dist. block

as DOC mentioned it is for the convenience of use, rather than running 2 separate grounds to different or the same place on the dash I would have one wire from the dash down to the block next to the radio and amp. I bought a few ground wires, the ones for the battery and ran a wire from the frame to the engine block, one from the frame to the neg terminal of the battery, and still need to ground a bit more from the body to the frame. This hobby is as much about basic electrical knowledge as it is about communication.

Thanks for all the ideas and input. Mat :r&r:

[77F150Screwb]

Beef... I intend to run 8 gauge wire from the dash to the dist. block

If you're going to run 8ga to anywhere, you should probably go ahead and run it down to the frame. You'll bypass any potential for resistance through the body, and you'll know for sure that you've got a quality ground.

Think about it from this perspective: When you ground an electrical box on your house, do you drive a grounding stake into the ground, or do you just attach the ground wire to your slab? Same principle