Hi! I have removed my hot water heater (I don’t use it and am relocating my holding tank so it’s no longer under v-berth). There were 3 wires that were grounded to the mounting tabs. What should I use to re-ground these wires? Thanks!
Grounding wires
- Thread starter bob45
- Start date
S
so The wires connect at their other ends to various other metal tabs or metal fixtures. One heads aft to a chain plate, one goes port to a screw on the fuel tank (about 3in through the bulkhead) and the third heads forward and meets up to a metal post with more similar looking wires… are these wires for lightning?
Sounds more like bonding wires than lightning. The latter would be larger than what is pictured and run directly to the keel or grounding plate.
if for bonding, (to avoid stray current), the most expedient thing would be to just connect them together.
Frankly, it sounds like a mess of multiple connections. If even one develops a high resistance, the efficacy drops making it almost useless for that purpose.
Yes, I agree ... it's somebody's idea of a bonding system. With those small wires, they may be useless. What do you mean by "heads forward and meets up to a metal post". Is the post connected to something like the mast base or the stem fitting? Is the "post" a rod or screw terminal strip or a chainplate of some sort? If the wires are connected to chainplates and/or the mast, it seems like it may be a useless attempt to protect against lightning. I'd be inclined to strip it all out and do some research to figure out what I want to replace it with, if anything. There looks to be some corrosion going on in the wire terminals anyway.
I’m thinking you all are right. I’ll just tidy them up for now and focus on more pressing projects. Thanks for the help!
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 21,175
Remember black is AC hot too…. better physically trace those before you “ground”
