The Art of Grounding (Autosound 2000 Tech Briefs)

A thorough inspection of the installation instructions supplied with most car audio components will simply reveal little more than that the black wire is to be connected to a "good, clean chassis ground." Removing the paint, dirt, and grime from a grounding point is not all that difficult, but what constitutes a "good" car audio ground?

Proper grounding in most electronic disciplines insures that all related points, in the same system, operate at the same potential. In car audio, improper grounding needs no description, and the symptoms of a "bad" ground are, of course, unwanted noise.

Learn about the basics of grounds in an automotive audio system.