ground

[stevieb]

I'm restoring an old 24 foot pocket cruiser that sleeps 4. I'm told that to get good ground, the battery's negative needs to be connected first to the engine. I have an 8hp outboard for motor power. What are your thoughts?

 

[Sailvayu]

Not sure if you are talking AC or DC ground. In any case you can use a heavy buss bar for your ground if you do not have the engine. if you have an AC system i would install a a ground plate on the bottom of the boat. The AC and DC grounds need to be connected together as well. If you only have a DC system no need for the ground plate although it could be helpful for lightning.

Capt. Wayne Canning, AMS
www.projectboatzen.com

 

[FourPoints]

That information is for inboards. For your outboard, get a 100A or larger buss bar and make that your common ground, and attach the negative battery terminal, the engine battery cable (negative), and any other ground connections such as your main DC panel ground.

Anywhere you read to attach something to the engine ground, substitute ground buss instead.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

The only time an outboard engine is connected to a battery is simply for the use of electric start or for recharging of the battery. Never use the engine for a ground nor any metal thru hull fitting either.

dave condon