Battery Ground question

BreckenridgeCruiser · 11-07-07, 03:10 PM

In by BJ44, the neg terminal of the low side battery is grounded to the battery tray itself. I'm not an electrician, but that doesn't sound too good.

Where is the stock grounding point? If I am going to move it, is there a better place to ground it than even the stock location? Should I run it to the frame?

Thanks!

MattF · 11-07-07, 04:37 PM

You can never have too many grounding points.

If you think the current one(s) may be iffy, adding several more to various points will be beneficial. Just make sure you have good, solid contact between the lug and grounding point, and smear some copper slip over the lug once bolted in place to prevent corrosion.

canucksafari · 11-07-07, 05:08 PM

I would have at least one ground to the frame rail and another ground to the engine.

Jim_Hbar · 11-08-07, 12:38 AM

Size and length of grounding wires is important. I once had a SBC powered boat that would crank okay, but wouldn't fire until you stopped cranking - it didn't have enough voltage while cranking to fire the spark plugs.

Highest current draw is the starter, so ideally, the most direct ground should go there, with the engine also connected to the frame. It is also a good idea to have redundant grounds, so if one connection goes bad, you don't end up grounding the engine through a clutch cable, fuel line, or some other bad path.

BreckenridgeCruiser · 11-08-07, 12:49 AM

what is copper slip?

I was using that red stuff in the spray can.

MattF · 11-08-07, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreckenridgeCruiser

what is copper slip?

I was using that red stuff in the spray can.

It may have a completely different name over your way, but generally it's a copper coloured anti-seize compound. There's info on this website:

http://commaoils.com

It's in the maintenance section. Due to the fact that it contains traces of copper, it protects whilst not running the risk of acting like an insulator, as grease can.

brownbear · 11-08-07, 11:28 AM

if it's called dielectric then it's an insulator and not good for connections. I used a conductive grease on planes in salt water once.....darn if I can remember the name.

Copper antisieze should be conductive.

MattF · 11-08-07, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownbear

....darn if I can remember the name.

Isn't it annoying when that happens?

BreckenridgeCruiser · 11-08-07, 12:25 PM

The red spray sutff is stuff you use to protect battery terminals. I did alll four terminals on my bats, but not the grounds or anything else.

If I want to get a grond that connects to both the frame and the engine, do they make split cables liekt that? how long will I need?

canucksafari · 11-08-07, 12:31 PM

You can make your own cable. Oh and I forgot the body in my first post. So you should have a good solid ground connection to body, frame and engine.

BreckenridgeCruiser · 11-08-07, 06:03 PM

How do I make my own? I can see where I would buy cable and then put two ends on (battery terminal and eye for frame). How do I make mulitple 'arms' off of one cable?

canucksafari · 11-08-07, 07:04 PM

Go to any commercial supply electrical shop and say you want a water proof bus or terminal to connect three ground cable wires off of the one ground wire coming from the battery. They will be able to give you some options. Don't expect anything from your every day run of the mill automotive place like Crappy Tire or say from the electrical department at Home Depot.

brownbear · 11-08-07, 07:04 PM

why do you need multiple arms? for the positive you use a post with a stud on it, then the cables that connect to it they have ring terminals.

I like 2/0 cable for battery cables my self.

The ends are best soldered on.

canucksafari · 11-08-07, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownbear

why do you need multiple arms? for the positive you use a post with a stud on it, then the cables that connect to it they have ring terminals.

I like 2/0 cable for battery cables my self.

The ends are best soldered on.

Now why didn't I say that? Much better this way than a bus.

BreckenridgeCruiser · 11-08-07, 07:19 PM

Duh,

I put a new one of those on on the 214v POS just the other day. I can make a few separate cables that each go to the engine, frame, and body.

So, I know where I can go the body, and the frame, but where is the best place to attach to engine?

Thanks for all of the help!

11-07-07, 03:10 PM	#1
BreckenridgeCruiser IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Breckenridge, Colorado Posts: 383	Battery Ground question In by BJ44, the neg terminal of the low side battery is grounded to the battery tray itself. I'm not an electrician, but that doesn't sound too good. Where is the stock grounding point? If I am going to move it, is there a better place to ground it than even the stock location? Should I run it to the frame? Thanks! __________________ 1981 JDM BJ44 RHD - Going under the knife soon!

11-07-07, 05:08 PM	#3
canucksafari IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Abby Posts: 2,340	I would have at least one ground to the frame rail and another ground to the engine. __________________ John G. 姉 Join the Import Vehicle Owners Association of Canada: Fight for what is right

11-08-07, 12:38 AM	#4
Jim_Hbar IH8MUD Junior Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: North Okanagan, BC Posts: 151	Size and length of grounding wires is important. I once had a SBC powered boat that would crank okay, but wouldn't fire until you stopped cranking - it didn't have enough voltage while cranking to fire the spark plugs. Highest current draw is the starter, so ideally, the most direct ground should go there, with the engine also connected to the frame. It is also a good idea to have redundant grounds, so if one connection goes bad, you don't end up grounding the engine through a clutch cable, fuel line, or some other bad path. __________________ '74 Bronco - RIP '75 FJ40 - Gone '81 RamCharger - Gone '95 XJ - recently Gone '85 SR5 - Going '90 HZJ73 - 24V winch, Lift, Auto

11-08-07, 12:49 AM	#5
BreckenridgeCruiser IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Breckenridge, Colorado Posts: 383	what is copper slip? I was using that red stuff in the spray can. __________________ 1981 JDM BJ44 RHD - Going under the knife soon!

11-08-07, 11:28 AM	#7
brownbear Mod in Hibernation Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Where diesels purr and turbos whine TLCA# 15584 Posts: 6,183	if it's called dielectric then it's an insulator and not good for connections. I used a conductive grease on planes in salt water once.....darn if I can remember the name. Copper antisieze should be conductive. __________________ -84 BJ60, Finally on the FN road! -91 FJ80, wife's ride Iron Butt award winner of the Cruise Moab 08 !

11-07-07, 04:37 PM	#2
MattF IH8MUD Junior Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Yorkshire, England Posts: 137	You can never have too many grounding points. If you think the current one(s) may be iffy, adding several more to various points will be beneficial. Just make sure you have good, solid contact between the lug and grounding point, and smear some copper slip over the lug once bolted in place to prevent corrosion.

11-08-07, 12:25 PM	#9
BreckenridgeCruiser IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Breckenridge, Colorado Posts: 383	The red spray sutff is stuff you use to protect battery terminals. I did alll four terminals on my bats, but not the grounds or anything else. If I want to get a grond that connects to both the frame and the engine, do they make split cables liekt that? how long will I need? __________________ 1981 JDM BJ44 RHD - Going under the knife soon!

11-08-07, 12:31 PM	#10
canucksafari IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Abby Posts: 2,340	You can make your own cable. Oh and I forgot the body in my first post. So you should have a good solid ground connection to body, frame and engine. __________________ John G. 姉 Join the Import Vehicle Owners Association of Canada: Fight for what is right

11-08-07, 06:03 PM	#11
BreckenridgeCruiser IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Breckenridge, Colorado Posts: 383	How do I make my own? I can see where I would buy cable and then put two ends on (battery terminal and eye for frame). How do I make mulitple 'arms' off of one cable? __________________ 1981 JDM BJ44 RHD - Going under the knife soon!

11-08-07, 07:04 PM	#12
canucksafari IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Abby Posts: 2,340	Go to any commercial supply electrical shop and say you want a water proof bus or terminal to connect three ground cable wires off of the one ground wire coming from the battery. They will be able to give you some options. Don't expect anything from your every day run of the mill automotive place like Crappy Tire or say from the electrical department at Home Depot. __________________ John G. 姉 Join the Import Vehicle Owners Association of Canada: Fight for what is right

11-08-07, 07:19 PM	#15
BreckenridgeCruiser IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Breckenridge, Colorado Posts: 383	Makes sense! Duh, I put a new one of those on on the 214v POS just the other day. I can make a few separate cables that each go to the engine, frame, and body. So, I know where I can go the body, and the frame, but where is the best place to attach to engine? Thanks for all of the help! __________________ 1981 JDM BJ44 RHD - Going under the knife soon!

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