Ground line to engine-where does it go?

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Endurance2010

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Apr 20, 2010
119
Hunter 34 San Mateo
I have been doing some electric panel work and found a line going from the engine block to the electric panel. However, it's not connected anywhere on the back of the electric panel and is just flopping around back there? I assume I should connect it to a neutral ground somewhere, but where. Will any neutral terminal work? Thanks.

--Dan
 
Ed Schenck

Ed Schenck

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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
You need pictures from someone like Maine Sail who has all that stuff documented. On my boat the ground wire goes to a buss bar which is the common side of all of the DC circuit breakers.
 
kloudie1

kloudie1

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Nov 6, 2006
10,093
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Ed is correct.. the ground buss bar on the DC panel.. Any open lug on the DC ground bar is OK but it could be combined with any other ground on the bar
not AC green and not AC neutral (white)
 
jdhohmann

jdhohmann

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Mar 11, 2009
200
Hunter 40 Saint John
Kloudie 1 is correct. It must go on the DC side Grounding buss bar, no where else, and please make sure it is connected to the engine block as well...
 
F

Forrest15112

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Jan 22, 2008
423
Catalina 30 Mandeville, La.
jdhohmann said:
Kloudie 1 is correct. It must go on the DC side Grounding buss bar, no where else, and please make sure it is connected to the engine block as well...
Click to expand
There are separate grounds, DC & AC on a boat? I work with and have had extensive training on the subject of grounding, but that is in regard to AC & DC in a communications facility. In those installations, it is stressed that all grounds be at the same potential and never separated. Is there a different practice in the marine environment?
 
Dan Johnson

Dan Johnson

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Oct 14, 2005
2,191
1983 Hunter H34 North East, MD
Forrest...

All grounds at the same potential works in a digital telecom environment (I have had Nortel certs), but on a boat you want to keep the AC and DC circuitry seperated due to the shock hazzard of live AC getting into the boat's DC as well as the electrolysys factor involving your shaft, strut, prop, and thru-hulls.
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Hey Dan J,
On boats the grounds are all connected together for the same reason as in a commo bay. But on a boat you have AC, DC, RF, lightning, and corrosion grounds so there are some wrinkles to work through. Stray currents from dock shore and other boat wiring, how to connect everything and not make the boat into a battery that corrodes in a season....... West Marine has a great article on the subject.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...catalogId=10001&page=Marine-Grounding-Systems
 
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Forrest15112

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Jan 22, 2008
423
Catalina 30 Mandeville, La.
Bill,
Thanks for the link, very informative. I didn't consider the electrolytic corrosion. That puts a twist on things. The AC & DC grounds threw me at first, but from the article, I understand the DC return is referred to as the DC ground as in an automobile or other self contained vehicle. I might suggest something different than the #4 battery cable from the mast as a main absorber. Overall, it makes sense and has some trade-offs due to preventing electrolytic flow. So all grounds are indeed bonded, but the lightning ground is isolated (at least to DC). It's not ideal, but the trade-offs are reasonable.
 
Dan Johnson

Dan Johnson

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Oct 14, 2005
2,191
1983 Hunter H34 North East, MD
Hey Bill R...

I will check my grounding with a meter the next time I pull the panel (which will be soon). I've isolated the grounds on previous boats and will check how the AC is handled on the H34.

I'll check the WM link for more info. I do have GFCI's in my boat and use one for power tools when working on deck. I'll have to dig out old PS's to see if I have the "green wire" article.

Thanks!
 
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