When hooking up my amp does it matter if I hook up ground, then battery? Should I disconnect the battery when hooking it up? Lastly can anyone reccomend the easiest way to screw in the wires, basically the ground/battery wires are very big and hard to get connected properly.

 

Ground first. You don't have to disconnect. Split in twist.

 

I can't vouch 100% for the first question...but I can say that I think either way, with the car off, will be OK, simply because in my install this weekend (actually because of the problem you mention in your second question....my wires kept slipping out) I did it both ways. I think it's safer to connect the power wire and then the ground...I know if you do it the other way, you'll get a little spark action when you plug in the power wire. I've gotten shocked by that before - wasn't a good time (my elbow shot back directly into my sub box, smashing my crazy bone. Talk about numbness for a few minutes)


The second question, just keep trimming the tip of the wiring down a bit until it fits nice and tightly. The longest part of my amp install this weekend was getting my 4ga wiring to fit in my amps 8ga terminals tightly, cutting them down repeatedly. Makes me wish amps had terminals that were more universal and easy to work with. (Also as HNIC mentioned, you can split the wires around the screw to make it a bit easier)

Hope that helps man.

 

Disconnect the neg on the battery...Conect everything on the amp, reconect battery...If you amp does not accept 4 gauge power wire, you need 8, get a fused d block to split it out the right way. I hope you fused the battery too.

 

To get four gauge wire to fit 8 you split and twist

 

What do you mean by split and twist?

 

Bend the wire on the tip into halves, and twist each as tight as possible. Then insert the two twisted ends on the sides of the screw and screw down.

I tried this to fit 4ga into 8ga terminals alone and it was still too large. max'n out's advice is better than mine about cutting the wire down.

 

disconnecting the ground will just cause more shock

 

 

I have 4 gauge wire through in my car, so if I trim the power and ground wire for a more secure fit, then wont it cut down on the power my amp can produce? Or am I just crazy?

 

Your just crazy

But seriously if you trim it down it will not affect your amp. Make sure its only about 1/2 or so though.