Ground wire system
Former Moderator
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 10,796
Likes: 2
From: Columbus
Easy way to tell if your car is gounded properly.
1. Approach car with remote in hand.
2. Push the unlock button.
3. If doors unlock, you are grounded.
4. For those that really want to make sure, your interior light comes on when you open the door.
1. Approach car with remote in hand.
2. Push the unlock button.
3. If doors unlock, you are grounded.
4. For those that really want to make sure, your interior light comes on when you open the door.
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 11
From: Pensacola
Originally Posted by KennyS2K,Mar 17 2006, 02:40 PM
just a thought, i may be wrong, but..........
your alternator produces a/c which is then rectified and regulated internally to 13+ volt d/c. This runs your ignition, not your battery. your battery is a storage battery and meant for vehicle starting and then the electronics are engine powered.
your alternator is grounded by being bolted directly to your engine block. your spark plugs are grounded by being threaded directly into the head. sounds to me like a pretty good ground system as is.
d/c current flows from negative to positive in a complete loop. why not pay attention to the positive side of the loop?
grounding may be of help for accessories using the body as a ground.
your alternator produces a/c which is then rectified and regulated internally to 13+ volt d/c. This runs your ignition, not your battery. your battery is a storage battery and meant for vehicle starting and then the electronics are engine powered.
your alternator is grounded by being bolted directly to your engine block. your spark plugs are grounded by being threaded directly into the head. sounds to me like a pretty good ground system as is.
d/c current flows from negative to positive in a complete loop. why not pay attention to the positive side of the loop?
grounding may be of help for accessories using the body as a ground.
Everything is powered through the battery. There are several reasons for this, most important being the battery acts as a 'filter' and helps dampen voltage spikes (acts as a capacitor - about 1 farad). The battery also provides static resistance (about 1-2 ohms).
The only real benefit to any grounding system is to possibly reduce alternator noise in aftermarket stereos. However, I haven't seen any of the hyped grounding systems that are actually set up to properly do this.
If this is actually your goal, you can do this at 1/4 the price. The basic concept for reducing alternator noise is to provide as close to the same ground potential (as the alternator) at the battery, and grounding point of your audio equipment (within 2 ohms). This requires only a multimeter, long leads, extra grounding wires and your time.
x2
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,613
Likes: 1
From: ORANGE COUNTY, SOUTH CALI
Unless you are running extra load on your eletrical system, like a couple of amps, lighting, and etc. Then theres no need for the ground system. But in the sound system world if you are running amps it's best to do the "Big 3"
1. Battery(-) to Chassis
2. Alternator (+) to battery (+)
3. Engine to Chassis
Theres no need to buy a grounding "system" Just get some 0 awg wire and do it yourself.
1. Battery(-) to Chassis
2. Alternator (+) to battery (+)
3. Engine to Chassis
Theres no need to buy a grounding "system" Just get some 0 awg wire and do it yourself.
