Club 80-90 Forums

Hi there folks,

I've got a quick, and probably very simple query about how to earth new electrical items...

I wired in a new fuse box for the leisure electrics today, all good and working with fuses for each thing (fridge, heater, radio etc). However I want to add some extra LED lighting and although I know that the positive can be wired into the new fuse box, where should I wire the earth/negative wire? I've had a dig around to look at the existing electrics and I can see a point that they all return to.
Any advice would be great, I'm definitely not destined to be an auto electrician!
Cheers
Richard

Just find a screw or bolt close to the light fitting that screws in to metal and attach there, if not one close by you can always drill a hole and attach self tapping screw just make sure you have some bare metal to make a good contact.

Richardwhite wrote:where should I wire the earth/negative wire? I've had a dig around to look at the existing electrics and I can see a point that they all return to.

The whole of the bodywork is earthed. Everything metal.

AdrianC wrote:

Richardwhite wrote:where should I wire the earth/negative wire? I've had a dig around to look at the existing electrics and I can see a point that they all return to.

The whole of the bodywork is earthed. Everything metal.

Assuming the leisure battery is chassis earthed and split charged.
I came across one recently that wasn't, everything was connected back to the battery independently and the battery was only charged by a mains charger on hook up. There was no connection to chassis earth!

Mocki wrote:

AdrianC wrote:

Richardwhite wrote:where should I wire the earth/negative wire? I've had a dig around to look at the existing electrics and I can see a point that they all return to.

The whole of the bodywork is earthed. Everything metal.

Assuming the leisure battery is chassis earthed and split charged.

Good point.

I came across one recently that wasn't, everything was connected back to the battery independently and the battery was only charged by a mains charger on hook up. There was no connection to chassis earth!

<gibber>

Brilliant, thanks chaps

As far as I can tell the rest of the electrics are as they should be - chassis earthed and with a split charge relay that all works fine. It was just a case on how to add extras! The only thing missing is the Westy BBB but I've got a separate charger so no probs there.
Thanks again!

Earth close to the light unit (perhaps on the light mounting itself if screwing into metal), or the nearest existing earth point, Best use a crimped eyelet connection. However, the issue is often attaching a connection to such a small gauge wire (used on LED lights because of their low power) without breaking it.

Martin

California Dreamin wrote:However, the issue is often attaching a connection to such a small gauge wire (used on LED lights because of their low power) without breaking it.

Very true - tiny wires are difficult to terminate. Double crimps help (bottom half of this page) - first crimp holds the insulation, second crimp holds the bared wires - then a bit of solder won't hurt, and a bit of heat shrink adds mechanical strength even if it isn't needed on an earth wire.

I always solder - can't abide crimped connections as I have seen so many that have corrosion in them. Always shrink tube them also as the insulation gripping can be a weak point after soldering which can lead to fracturing of the wires due to work hardening.

Thanks for the advice OBG, I'm never really sure if it's better to use crimps or solder - especially when joining two lengths of wire.
I need to extend the +ve wire from the battery to the new fuse box by 6 inches - in an ideal world id replace the whole length but in this case the wire disappears behind the cupboards and I don't want to remove the whole interior just for that! It's joined with a connector block at the mo but does anyone have a better method?

You can join if you know what your doing.

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