2ndtime50guy
Contributor
Posts: 425
Loc: Midwestern U.S.A.
Reg: 04-06-12
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07-03-12 07:22 PM - Post#2244205
Hi Folks. My wiring harness is about 1/2 way installed. Time to start doing my "homework" for the weekend. I've talked to some of you in private messages and emails and understand how to ground the engine, frame, and body. I understand how to create the ground "circuits", if you will, using junction blocks from radio shack, etc. I even have a few new components that came with a ground wire, i.e. my voltage meter and my fuel gauge reducer. I've read that the dome light grounds to the body. My question is this: What makes a good place to start the ground from each component if it doesn't have a return or a negative terminal? Example: Original Light Sockets in Dash--Do I solder a ground wire to the side of the lights canister or do I consider it grounded since its metal and already touching the dash--that one seems like overkill, but perhaps we are supposed to "spread out" the ground further from the source?? The horns are already grounded. My headlight sockets came with grounds. Any other ideas on things I haven't mentioned?
| I drove a '50 from the day I got my license thru college! Sadly, we sold it when I got married. I recently got the chance to buy the same car back from the man I sold it to; but the deal fell through and now I own a nicer one: 4 Dr Styleline Deluxe! |
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 Bob_Hayden
"12th Year" Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 5742
Age: 66
Loc: Indianapolis, In. USA
Reg: 07-17-01
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 07-03-12 07:33 PM - Post#2244210
In response to 2ndtime50guy
You can ground to anywhere on the body. THen you have to make sure the ground from the body to the frame is good and Frame to battery. The dash lights ground to the housing, then they are bolted to the dash and this grounds them.
| Bob Hayden's 54 Chevy, 350 Engine with TH400 Tranny and 94 4X4 Blazer Rear End with 3:23 gears.(FINISHED PICS) </a> My 54 Albums |
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 50hotrod
"2nd Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 366
Age: 56
Loc: Wisconsin
Reg: 07-25-11
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07-03-12 07:48 PM - Post#2244216
In response to Bob_Hayden
What bob said is correct.
Run the battery negative to the engine. Run a 10 gauge wire from the engine to the frame then a 10 gauge wire from the engine to the body.
After these connections anything metal on the car is ground. Hope this helps.
Well, you know what's wrong with the world today
People done gone and put their Bible's away
They're living by the law of the jungle not the law of the land
"Simple Man" By Charlie Daniels
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 mahlmann
"3rd Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 483
Loc: Sunnyvale, CA
Reg: 01-20-11
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07-03-12 08:02 PM - Post#2244220
In response to 2ndtime50guy
I like to add dedicated ground wires to ensure a good connection. It took me almost a year to isolate an intermittant wiper problem on my '58 caused by a bad connection between the wiper switch body and the dash panel. Adding a dedicated ground wire to the back of the switch solved that problem.
I did a body-off-frame restoration on a '49 Chevy truck, with every body panel and the frame epoxy primered. I used new correct battery cables and all ground cables and NOTHING electrical worked. I had to pull bolts, scrape away some primer and paint, use star washers and build a ground path to everything electrical.
So now, when in doubt, I add dedicated ground wires where ever I think there may be a grounding problem. That makes it one less thing to worry about.
Good luck with yours!
Mike Ahlmann
Sunnyvale, CA
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2ndtime50guy
Contributor
Posts: 425
Loc: Midwestern U.S.A.
Reg: 04-06-12
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07-04-12 04:10 AM - Post#2244313
In response to mahlmann
Thanks for great explanations!
| I drove a '50 from the day I got my license thru college! Sadly, we sold it when I got married. I recently got the chance to buy the same car back from the man I sold it to; but the deal fell through and now I own a nicer one: 4 Dr Styleline Deluxe! |
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Bruces 57
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 1663
Reg: 01-03-07
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07-04-12 04:31 AM - Post#2244320
In response to 2ndtime50guy
Hello;
I, not like others ran a ground wire directly from the negative post of the battery inside the dash area, connected a multi connection buss (radio shack) and now with each addition to my car (57 Chevy) I can direct ground wires there for grounding!
Including my AC, Radio, anything, and I don't have to search for "someplace to ground" with "iffy" results!
I learned this method wile chasing grounding problems on my 32 Hot Rod with a Fiberglass body. It has almost every electrical convenience known to man! and some didn't work too good because of it!
Bruce
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lobucrod
Contributor
Posts: 223
Age: 61
Loc: Springtown Texas
Reg: 10-01-07
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07-04-12 05:13 AM - Post#2244328
In response to Bruces 57
Rule #1 when chasing electrical gremlins, first assume its a bad ground. Use star washers when bolting on anything that has to ground through the body or frame.
'38 Chevy Coupe
'50 Sedan Delivery
'37 Chevy Peecup
2000 Harley Heritage Classic
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