Grounding Cable

[Dubai]

I have attempted to attach a photo to this post.
Hope it works.
Boat is a Hunter 326 2003 model.
I am trying to determine where the green ground cable in the photo should be connected.
It is in the port lazzarette where the fuel tank is situated.

Any ideas??

Thanks,

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

green usually signifies ground - from the tank, fill pipe, ????

 

[Dubai]

Hi Don

Yes for sure its a ground cable, but for the life of me, I cant see where its come adrift from. It is a new boat to me, and was like this when I received her. I need a very small person to be able to climb down into the lazarette to look up to the fuel filler area, or a big mirror I guess.

 

[jdhohmann]

could have been run from your main grounding plate, and it was intended to be used as another grounding plate. instead of running your ground requirements all the way back to your main grounding plate. AS said earlier, your tanks should also be grounded as well..

 

[Dubai]

Hi Jan

That's a possibility. Re grounding the fuel tank, it's plastic along with filler pipe etc., so don't think it was for that. Also the size of the wire is too large to connect easily to anything in the area.

 

[Don12364]

Photo is displayed okay but I cannot establish where in the boat the photo was taken.

It could be for the boat's main ground on the shorepower system so could go to/from the shorepower socket to inverter or cabin outlets or any other major mains electrical appliance (Microwave etc).

Normally(?) ground cables of this size go from mast to keel in order to ground lightning strikes - so look for possible connection points on bolts passing through the deck on the underside of the mast step and also on the keel or any washers or plates under the nuts on the keel bolts.

Then again it could have been for an earth plate for an SSB radio.

Local grounding of hull fittings to the boat's DC negative wiring such as the strut or a brush running on the prop shaft are other possibilities.

One might even dare hypothesise that if it is not for any of the above then it might not be necessary at all!

Theses earths are almost invariably there for safety purposes so if in doubt get an electrician to take a look.

 

[Dubai]

Hi Donalex

The cable is in the port lazarette where the fuel tank is situated.
It is a large gauge cable so must be for a grounding plate or as you say maybe the shore power connection, but it is too big to fit there and in any case shore power is connected and working fine and according to the galvanic isolator all is well on the grounding front.

 

[jtm]

maybe the previous owner had a galvanic isolator that ties into the shore power inlet and left that ground behind/hanging or even forgot to reconnect it after removing the isolator???

 

[Dan Johnson]

Dubai...

What's on the other end? What would it "ground"?

 

[Dubai]

Hi JTMCCUE
The galvanic isolator is intact and all indications from it are that the grounding is fine.

Hi Dan
I guess it is connected to the ground plate in the bilge. I can check that it is actually connected to ground using a meter but I am sure it is.

Was hoping that a fellow 326 owner would be able to take a quick look on their own boat to see if they have this cable and where it is connected.

Thanks

 

[Jake N Eggs]

If you have a stainless steel arch, check to see if there is a ground strap on the mounting bolts. The arch should be grounded.

 

[Dubai]

Hi Jake n Eggs

I think you've got it.
I do indeed have a SS Arch and the arch was removed when shipping from USA to Dubai.
I guess they missed that when they re-installed the arch here in Dubai.
Pretty sure that must be it, I will check this weekend to see if there is a ground attached to the arch fixings, if not I know where it goes.

Thanks to all for your most helpful replies.

 

[Dubai]

Had a good look at the boat today and pretty sure it is meant to be the grounding cable for the SS arch as there isn't one connected at the moment. It is a 2 man job to fit though, my arms aren't long enough to reach both inside and outside the make the connection. Will get a hand to fit it next visit.
Thanks to everybody for their interest and suggestions.