How To: DIY Ground Wire Kit

got wake? · Jun 7, 2003

wow, you all are spending way too much on this

i get all my wire and accessories from knukonceptz. here's a link for 4 guage cable:
http://www.knukonceptz.com/search_r...earch=fromSearch&btnSearch.x=7&btnSearch.y=10
$.99 a foot, and several colors to choose from.
here's a link for the terminals:
http://www.knukonceptz.com/search_r...earch=fromSearch&btnSearch.x=5&btnSearch.y=10
on sale for $.99 a terminal

say you need 15 foot of cable, and 10 terminals. that's ony $25 for some very high quality products

i'm doing my ground kit with the silver and black cable

SilverProtege5 · Jun 9, 2003

I just ordered from knukonceptz, 15 feet of silver 4-gauge wire and 10 terminal clips for $31 shipped

Coqui258 · Jun 14, 2003

Hey guys! I just ordered 15 feet of 4 gauge red wire for only $15!!! FREE SHIPPING for up to 20 feet! Here's the link...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3030292130

QUICK DELIVERY! I recommend them!

happies713 · Jun 19, 2003

I have the DIY wire also. but i save you guys the DIY.

Exaple of a typical Grounding kit install. =)

here are the ground wire kits i am selling. 4 gauge wire 100% electroite copper, Oxygen free cable, low resistance, made in the USA wire. and gold plated ring terminals, crimped very securely by myself 40.00 shipped.

5 wires inclued

paypal addy: happies713@hotmail.com i take paypal or money order. please specify car model and color needed.
40.00 Shipped.

pro5foote · Jun 29, 2003

I went out to look for a cheaper way to do this, I first stopped at a stero shop, they wanted $1.50 per foot for 4gauge wire. Then I went to Home depot and found 4gauge wire for .30 cents per foot. Is this the same wire?? If so this is a hell of a lot cheaper, If not, I'd gladly pay for it done. $30 for materials and my time to make them or $40 for them to come in the mail ready to go... It's worth the $10 bucks to me. What do you guys think??

MisterT · Jun 29, 2003

I need a ground wire kit also. Where do you get that particular kit? Also, has any one had to upgrade power wire from alternator to the battery? I have a 2001 2.0 liter engine, and the alternator is hard to get to unless I can get under the car. Has any one tried this?

Thanks!

MiStEr T

Gro Harlem · Jun 30, 2003

Sorry for my previous post. I was kinda peeved that so many people just begin asking questions and assuming 8 gauge works just as good without reading my how-to which answers's all these questions. I took my time to do a write up on this, and nothing be criticism comes from it. You'd be peeved too.

The reason I use 4 gauge (amp kit wire) is becuase it has been proven to have the least resistance. ALl the magazine articles I read say that is partially where the power gains, and increases in throttle response/headlights/starting power, etc comes from. And all magazine articles i've read only test the 4-gauge kits.

The HKS kit DOES use 8 guage wires, but they use 8 wires instead of 5. I have yet to see this kit tested by any magazines, but it might work just as good with the 3 extra wires. ALL of the ebay kits i've seen (including the arospeed) use only 5 8 gauge wires.

I would assume if you want to use 8 guage wiring, do like HKS and use 8 or more to get similar results. Route the wires all over the engine bay. but with all the extra terminals and wire you'd need, it wouldn't really be saving you much money to go this route.

I am just surprised to see so many of you so eager to find a way to do this cheaper, when it isn't even expensive to make your own 4 guage kit to begin with!! You all can afford to buy $20,000 cars, and won't pay another $20 to go from 8 to 4 gauge????? Doesn't make much sense to me.

And that home depot wire will work, but it isn't nearly as effeicient as amp wire. It might have 200 strands (tops) of copper wire, compared to amp kits which have well over 1400 and sometimes over 2000 strands. The resitance will be much higher with home-depot wire.

slenser · Jun 30, 2003

I will say, that I don't have 5 wires like the ebay kit does. I have 8, I think. I have some extra wire and connectors, so I'm going to be adding them as well. Man, I'm going to have wires running EVERYWHERE! LOL

Gro is also correct about the amp wire being better. Some of you may or may not know, that electricity flows on the outside of a wire. That means that more individual strands is going to mean more surface area for electons to flow. Hence, less resistance.

Good luck to all that do this!

t3ase · Jun 30, 2003

I just finished reading the how-to.. Very good write up.

Does anyone else have any pics of their completed ground wire setup? I'm a bit confused as to what points I should run the wires to. I've read where some people use 5, some use 8, even 13. Is this a case of more = better or more = overkill? Do you just start randomly attaching them to bolts whereever you find them?

got wake? · Jun 30, 2003

pro5foote said:
I went out to look for a cheaper way to do this, I first stopped at a stero shop, they wanted $1.50 per foot for 4gauge wire. Then I went to Home depot and found 4gauge wire for .30 cents per foot. Is this the same wire?? If so this is a hell of a lot cheaper, If not, I'd gladly pay for it done. $30 for materials and my time to make them or $40 for them to come in the mail ready to go... It's worth the $10 bucks to me. What do you guys think??

the wire at home depot has got to be coarse wire. it doesn't flow as well. electrons flow on the outside of each strand of wire, so the smaller the strands in the wire, the better the flow. knukonceptz has some of the finest strand wire available, and killer prices

slenser · Jun 30, 2003

I started with the basics...chassis ground from the battery, to the motor, etc. Then I got creative and just started running them to different areas. Just keep clear of moving parts. I pretty much just tried to tie everything together with a ground. I need to get some strip ties (wherever I put them) and secure them and make it look nicer. There may be some overkill in it, but if it works, it didn't cost too much anyway.

smithers_0990 · Jun 30, 2003

Just go to Home Depot and get 4awg welding cable. Im pretty sure its the same stuff that Best Buy sells but a hell of a lot cheaper. Welding cable is very flexable not the stiff stuff. I will probablly work on finishing my grounding later tonight.

Later

JustMe · Jun 30, 2003

Could anyone tell me how thick is that wire ? I dont understand that 4 guage thing ( I'm Estonian so dont be suprised

)

uclap5 · Jun 30, 2003

4 gauge = 1/4 of an inch, 8 gauge = 1/8 of an inch, etc.

Gro Harlem · Jun 30, 2003

Why buy the wire kits from Best Buy?

Wal-mart sells scosche kits for $25 (4-ga) with a RCA cable and 24 feet of wire! Or you could get a 8 guage kit for $20

slenser · Jul 1, 2003

uclap5 said:
4 gauge = 1/4 of an inch, 8 gauge = 1/8 of an inch, etc.

NAH! That can't be right. I'm going to have to check this, but I'm sure 8ga is bigger than 1/8 inch.

slenser · Jul 1, 2003

Yup, just checked... it's 3/16" Sorry can't help on the 4ga stuff

Sam

got wake? · Jul 3, 2003

8 guage is a little under 9/32" or a little over 1/4"
4 guage is 3/8"
1/0 cable is 5/8"

course it all depends on the thickness of insulation.

slenser · Jul 4, 2003

Are you measuring the shielding as well? I measured only the wire itself.

uclap5 · Jul 4, 2003

slenser said:
NAH! That can't be right. I'm going to have to check this, but I'm sure 8ga is bigger than 1/8 inch.

get some 16 gauge steel and its 1/16 of an inch, some 4 gauge aluminum... 1/4 of an inch. that be the way it werks in sheet metal...

in wires... who knows, i dont deal with insulated wires much.

How To: DIY Ground Wire Kit

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