All accessories to common ground?

[polk county]

I read that most electrical accessories in a boat are tied to a common ground wire. That would mean that I would connect the negative leads of the bilge pump, bow light, stern light, courtesy lights, sonar, and spotlight to a common ground wire. I don't understand how this is done. That would be several three-way connections, correct? If I did this wouldn't the gauge of the ground wire have to be larger than the positive wires going to each accessory?

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: All accessories to common ground?

Connecting all the ground wires in some fashion is called bonding. This accomplishes several things when done properly. It controls electrolysis, reduces or eliminates electronic interference, and increases safety. It insures a current path that returns to the battery. To do it "right" includes connecting your devices ground wires, and if very anal, also running a second wire from each device's chassis back to the buss as well.

However, connecting stuff up with three-way crimps only sort-of does the job. A better way is to run something like an 8 or 6 gauge multi-strand copper wire from the "Negative" battery terminal to a buss at the helm or under the console, and run your grounds from your accessories to the buss. Secondly, if it is an aluminum boat,.I also connect the hull in multiple locations bow to stern to the bonding wire.

There will be some who will say that this is overkill and I agree but you won't have any issues either. This opinion goes on the assumption that ALL your devices cumulative amp draw is probably far less than capacity of the buss' ground wire.

 

[jhebert]

Re: All accessories to common ground?

For help with understanding the wiring techniques used in small boats for the distribution of electrical power see

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/boatWiring.html

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: All accessories to common ground?

For help with understanding the wiring techniques used in small boats for the distribution of electrical power see http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/boatWiring.html

good stuff!

 

[Texasmark]

Re: All accessories to common ground?

......... If I did this wouldn't the gauge of the ground wire have to be larger than the positive wires going to each accessory?

Mark's method solves this problem for you which was a correct assumption on gauge.

Electronics mfgrs make a terminal strip that you could mount under your dash that has screw lugs and available jumper strips to tie all of the terminals together. They may have marine versions available on here.

Or, you could make your own out of a sheet of aluminum and some SS screw/nuts. When you get everything secured give it a coat of electrical sealer spray or crystal clear Krylon to help resist corrosion. All materials used in this arrangement: alum, SS, and the tin plating on the terminal lugs are Group II metals and are compatible which helps to reduce any corrosion caused by electrical currents running through dissimilar metals.

Mark