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Grounds

chris85

chris85

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I’m going to try to make some battery/alternator cables today and as I was looking at stuff I saw some ground the alternator to the chassis and some go straight back to the battery.

Is one better than the other?

In my mind a chassis ground would have less resistance. And I could keep that cable shorter.
 
chris85 said:
I’m going to try to make some battery/alternator cables today and as I was looking at stuff I saw some ground the alternator to the chassis and some go straight back to the battery.

Is one better than the other?

In my mind a chassis ground would have less resistance. And I could keep that cable shorter.
Click to expand...
I have both.
Can't have too many especially if they are short.
 
Ah simple enough haha!

I’m thinking of running a ground from the alternator bracket to chassis, then neg battery post to chassis, chassis to block, then block to body.

Should cover it, right?
 
chris85 said:
Ah simple enough haha!

I’m thinking of running a ground from the alternator bracket to chassis, then neg battery post to chassis, chassis to block, then block to body.

Should cover it, right?
Click to expand...
That is what I have
 
Got ya. I was seeing that alternator bracket ground going straight back to battery rather than to chassis.
 
Make sure all of your ground locations are paint free...

Ask me how I know...:mad:
 
There's a lot of different types of grounds..
Grounds for divorce..
Coffee Grounds..
School Grounds..
:crazy:

But when it comes to electrical grounds,you need good ones,and there isn't any such thing as "too many"...GM uses a lot on square bodies,but many get "deleted" over the course of a few decades--most common ones to get removed and not put back ground the engine ,from the firewall to the valve cover bolt..and the one at the frame down near the transmission and cab mount that grounds the body to the frame..

On my trucks I've added another cable from the battery negative post to the altenator itself,usually there is a extra threaded hole on the back side to attach a cable to--if not then the bracket itself,and sand or file it to bare metal first..

I also ran a 4 gauge cable from the alternator output ,right to the positive battery terminal on my diesel pickup,and noted it now charges a bit higher on the volt meter than it used too..the original red wire to the harness that was 30+ years old is likely getting gangrene inside,and its a long trip from the alternator to the battery the way the oem harness was designed..
 
diesel4me said:
There's a lot of different types of grounds..
Grounds for divorce..
Coffee Grounds..
School Grounds..
:crazy:
Click to expand...

Haha! I actually searched and some threads about all that came up.

Everything I’m using is 1/0 gauge ( and a limited supply at the moment) so it should do for awhile. I can always add a longer alternator bracket to battery cable later.

I just made my pos alternator to battery, aaaaannnnnd I suck at soldering.
 
chris85 said:
Haha! I actually searched and some threads about all that came up.

Everything I’m using is 1/0 gauge ( and a limited supply at the moment) so it should do for awhile. I can always add a longer alternator bracket to battery cable later.

I just made my pos alternator to battery, aaaaannnnnd I suck at soldering.
Click to expand...
Heat is your friend when it comes to soldering, as is flux which helps the solder flow. Just make sure to clean the excess off afterwards. You may need to use a flame to heat that cable up though, but be careful not to damage the insulation.
 
Well I got about 80% done. Ran out of crimp connectors. Just need to make a block to chassis and a block to body cable and that should be that.

Abandoned the soldering cause it looked like I was doing more harm that good. Just made sure I got a good crimp on them
 
i guess i may have over grounded
front of motor to chassy back of motor to chassy off heads
body to chassy body to motor body to chassy in the middle on driver side
battery to boddy x3 battery to motor x2 didnt want ground problems
 
Kain said:
i guess i may have over grounded
front of motor to chassy back of motor to chassy off heads
body to chassy body to motor body to chassy in the middle on driver side
battery to boddy x3 battery to motor x2 didnt want ground problems
Click to expand...

That’s a lot of cables.
 
ya the ones in the middle are at least a half inch thick, overkill extreme
 
chris85 said:
Well I got about 80% done. Ran out of crimp connectors. Just need to make a block to chassis and a block to body cable and that should be that.

Abandoned the soldering cause it looked like I was doing more harm that good. Just made sure I got a good crimp on them
Click to expand...
I know I'm late here but for future sake. Did you tin your cable ends? You know, just melt some solder into your wire and on your connecter first. Then solder them together. Tinning helps
 
tenderfoot said:
I know I'm late here but for future sake. Did you tin your cable ends? You know, just melt some solder into your wire and on your connecter first. Then solder them together. Tinning helps
Click to expand...

I did not but I’ll try to remember this if I ever have to replace them.
 
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