Grounding kit and voltage stabilizer

[calico]

Some of my honda buddies were telling me about a grounding kit and voltage stabilizer. I heard a sound system in a prelude and it was super clean sounding with this setup. Are these things worth the $40 or $50? If so why aren't everyone doing them?

For the record, i did a search, read 1 thread...inconclusive

 

[eboy0]

Was just wondering if this helped anyone who had the strobing lights issue. If I drop my idle below 1000, the car sounds like it's studdering and my lights seriously strobe.
Anyone have any info?

 

[DSMunknown]

I see your thinking of it, yet I think you fail to see if you follow his write-up, there shan't be any weak links. As long as you install it and make sure everything is nice and snug there will be no issues. One thing that I don't understand is why the need for such a large gauge wire ( yet I'm installing a 4 gauge diy grounding kit myself). This seems overkill to me and I am unable to see a need for any ground to be that large. Even if one was to only crimp the terminals, and do so poorly, there still is more than likely going to be enough for a good ground ( not saying you should skimp on any of your connections). As long as you use common sense when putting it together his write up demonstrates how it is done, and will be on par with any other ground kits, if they use the same grounding points that it.

You missed my point. With Ron's write-up (assuming he does not alter/modify it) there are weak links. "Where are these weak links?", you might ask. Here is one, for example:

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Are you trying to argue that the daisy chain link seen in the photo above is equally comparable to that of two same-sized wires properly soldered into one terminal lug? IMHO these two methods that I have been refering to are not comparable.

Regarding you crimping comment - crimping grounding lug terminals pales in comparison in relation to well-soldered lugs-to-wires when regarding eletrical flow and eletrical resistance.

Just need a clarification - what are you refering to that "seems overkill to [you]"? Perhaps the common usage of four gauge wiring? If that is the case, then please elaborate on what exactly you mean and how exactly it is "overkill".

Was just wondering if this helped anyone who had the strobing lights issue. If I drop my idle below 1000, the car sounds like it's studdering and my lights seriously strobe.
Anyone have any info?

Strobing? I have never heard of that. Dimming - now that's a common occurance.

 

[romeen]

FWIW, I have the Hyperground cables in a daisy chain setup. I don't have any objective before and after data to be able to say with confidence that the system works. I felt that my idle was a little smoother and throttle response a little crisper. But of course the manufacturer makes these claims in their advertising so maybe the thought was already planted.

As several of you stated, I don't think you will get significant gains IF your electrical system is already functioning well. But for some who may have deteriorating ground connections or other electrical issues they might notice substantial benefits.

Having said that, decreasing electrical resistance and stabilizing voltage fluctuations is always good and, as long as it's done properly, you wont harm anything.

 

[DSMunknown]

FWIW, I have the Hyperground cables in a daisy chain setup. I don't have any objective before and after data to be able to say with confidence that the system works. I felt that my idle was a little smoother and throttle response a little crisper. But of course the manufacturer makes these claims in their advertising so maybe the thought was already planted.

You could always try the "window" test - At night, see if your dash dims when you put the window up or down. Some have claimed that they have noticed the dimming before the install, and none after the install.

As several of you stated, I don't think you will get significant gains IF your electrical system is already functioning well. But for some who may have deteriorating ground connections or other electrical issues they might notice substantial benefits.

Agreed, but in another sense (when regarding OEM grounding wires to aftermarket/DIY possibilities) it's not about the eletrical system functioning "well." It's more about getting the eletrical system to function "better" or "optimally."

Having said that, decreasing electrical resistance and stabilizing voltage fluctuations is always good and, as long as it's done properly, you wont harm anything.

Agreed.

 

[Leonthefaded]

This thread has long been dead but didnt find anything else on it, instead of making a new oen I decided....

I recently purchased and installed a NRG Voltage Stabilizer + Ground Wire Kit.

My GS idles ALOT better now and starts up perfectly everytime. My windows roll up faster and without delay. My lights still dim alittle bit when the AC condensor engages but thats it! Definatly some power gain from the kit with the stabilizer as well. I dont have a radio or sound system so W/e.

I was having alot of grounding issues before, with my car dieing when I went to start it random spirts of the lights going dim or the car wanting to die. All of those problems are gone now. It didnt fix this weird idle that I've notice recently but I'll soon find the answer to that.

Heres some pics of what I grounded and what can be grounded.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v731/Leonthefaded/IMG_20110920_202850.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v731/Leonthefaded/IMG_20110920_202855.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v731/Leonthefaded/IMG_20110920_202902.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v731/Leonthefaded/IMG_20110920_202923.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v731/Leonthefaded/IMG_20110920_202913.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v731/Leonthefaded/IMG_20110920_202928.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v731/Leonthefaded/IMG_20110920_202939.jpg

Heres what it looks like

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[razon35]

dude thats just a mess of wires that is unessessary just do the big 3 upgrade and ## good

 

[97gst_spyder]

I did the Big 3 and added a saturn alt. NO issues at all. I get about 14.5-14.3 to the ecu even at 600 rpm...

DSM's need all the grounding you can add. The factory grounding system is horrible.

 

[Leonthefaded]

I don't know what the big 3 is can you explain further?

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[Mike02rt]

I don't know what the big 3 is can you explain further?

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The "Big 3" refers to upgrading wiring for less resistance. It also produces a more stable flow of current and reduces dimming.

1. Power Wire from Battery to the alternator.
2. Ground Wire from the battery to the frame.
3. Ground Wire from the engine to the frame.

4ga wire is used instead of/ in combination with the stock wiring. Of course, you can always use 2ga, or drop down to 0ga wire (very large) too.

An example of the big three upgrade I used as a reference on my car:
Rockford Fosgate RTTi- How to upgrade the big 3 - YouTube
Sorry if the fact the car used is a Scion Tc, but it gets the main points across with visual aid.

 

[Nasty Dream]

I hadn't heard of the big three, but did something similar. Just a few here and there.

It was immediately noticeable. I used 4 gauge copper strand and lugs from wal-mart. Cost me like $20 total. I already had done the battery ground to firewall (did that a few years ago because I knew the grounds were terrible), I had also already done engine to neg. battery.

...so the difference I think was either throttle body to firewall and/or to neg. battery because I did both (there's a stock to firewall there that I replaced). I also did ground the alternator to the nearby frame, but I don't really know what the best grounding practices are. so maybe that did it all or did nothing.

Get more low RPM torque (at the very least) and was having trouble not mini-chirping the tires all over the parking lots the first day before I got used to it. Everything was more lively.

But keep in mind the stock ground wires are old and small and resistance builds up. SO its more like restoring lost power rather than adding it, perhaps.

"Your mileage may vary"

And yet another disclaimer, if you do this expecting anything more than 'hardly noticeable', you will be sorely disappointed.

Of course good grounds if you have a killer stereo.

 

[Leonthefaded]

Thank you for the explaination of that. I think it works out because the grounding kit came with wires that I havent used to ground anything, so I'm hoping (if they are long enough) I can do this Big 3 upgrade to my GS, after removing one of the grounds I've placed (Thermostat Housing) that is in theory uneeded. When I removed the stock grounding cable from the throttlebody to the frame it was very tiny in comparison to the NRG grounding wires I received...

I'm searching now but is it hard to remove the Alt wire and run some new larger ones to the bat? Is it easier to just "re-run" wires how I see fit?

 

[Nasty Dream]

Just read everything you can and pick which method. Just guessing is not the right way, unless you are a good guesser.

I happen to have decades of experience with this sort of thing, but not a lot of knowledge (as in best practices), if that makes sense. So I can get away with guessing and being close or bang-on.

YOu say "just put them how I see fit", I don't know your level of understanding, so I can't say.

But I plan on reading through this when I have more time. The problem is that there a lot of layman who will tell you how to do it. BUt not a lot of experts who will tell you how.

 

[Leonthefaded]

Lock this thread please

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