Here's Another Part that ERA Should Sell to Us

[patrickt]

I've been meaning to fashion a nice battery-to-frame ground for some time now. This piece is 4 gauge solid core copper, with the eyelets crimped and torch-soldered. My cost for parts might be about three bucks. Bending it so that it's a simple, drop in, plug and play, for the battery to frame took a little time. I think a fair price for this might be around thirty dollars. I'm sure ERA has some sort of machine that would bend it perfectly every time.

[1795]

Better patent that before ERA starts producing them. Who knows, the profits may be enough for Ellie to build her own cobra

[mrmustang]

Patrick,

The problem with a mount like that is that over time, the solid copper will break due to vibration and chassis flex. Could be one season, could be three, it's not a matter of if, but a matter of when.


Bill S.

[DanEC]

OK Patrick - your electrical flunky here. I'm not sure I follow the point of this. My old Corvette doesn't have a neg battery terminal to frame ground and they are notorious for having to ground everything due to the fiberglass body. I don't even have a drivetrain to frame ground on my ERA (but I ordered one from McMasters and intend to install it at the transmission) - and I haven't noticed any issues with grounding. I assume this is just precautionary or have you noticed a problem?

[mln385]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Patrick,

The problem with a mount like that is that over time, the solid copper will break due to vibration and chassis flex. Could be one season, could be three, it's not a matter of if, but a matter of when.


Bill S.

Ya I agree, nice job but I think a #4awg MTW might last longer in our car's with the vibrations.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

The problem with a mount like that is that over time, the solid copper will break due to vibration and chassis flex. Could be one season, could be three, it's not a matter of if, but a matter of when.

By the time that guy vibrates apart, I will long be dead and buried.

Originally Posted by DanEC

OK Patrick - your electrical flunky here. I'm not sure I follow the point of this. My old Corvette doesn't have a neg battery terminal to frame ground and they are notorious for having to ground everything due to the fiberglass body. I don't even have a drivetrain to frame ground on my ERA (but I ordered one from McMasters and intend to install it at the transmission) - and I haven't noticed any issues with grounding. I assume this is just precautionary or have you noticed a problem?

No problems, just tweaking. But if you want to know whether your frame is properly grounded, turn on your lights and fans and put an inductive ammeter around the little black wire that runs from the passenger side cylinder head to the firewall. If it's carrying more than 15 amps, do some additional grounding.

[madmaxx]

You absolutely want a ground from battery to frame and engine to frame!!!! I welded three transmission shift cables before I figured out what was going on when I forgot to reconnect the ground from the engine to frame. You probably are getting your ground through your motor mounts, if you werent the car would not be running.

[patrickt]

I also run a braided strap from the intake manifold to the firewall. But in order to get that "little black wire" (which was originally the only ground source to the frame other than nuts/bolts/cables) down to under 15 amps with all of my fans and lights on, I needed a third ground. That little black wire appears to be 14 gauge.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by patrickt

By the time that guy vibrates apart, I will long be dead and buried.

Patrick,

It's your car, you do with it what you want, but you'll be alive when it happens unless you do not plan to be around in the next 1-3 years. The real question is, will you be man enough to admit it when it happens?


Bill S.

PS: There is a reason why regular ground straps are made of stranded or braided materials, same goes for your battery cables. Think about it for a while, you'll figure it all out I'm sure of it.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

... will you be man enough to admit it when it happens?

Why would you think I might not?

[jwd]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Why would you think I might not?

Oh, I don't know. Maybe a check of your prior 15,384 posts might give you a clue.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by jwd

Oh, I don't know. Maybe a check of your prior 15,384 posts might give you a clue.

Which one did you have in mind?

[Large Arbor]

Pat,

I would go with the stranded wire in this case which has some flex. Solid copper would also tend to vibrate more over time since it does not flex. However, I would use solid for very short runs.

Phil

[Large Arbor]

Oh by the way, that engine is way to clean. I could eat off of that. You must have solved all your oil leaks! (:

Phil

[Dwight]

I know this is not a ground wire answer but Dell City sells a lot of electrical stuff for cars.

I buy connectors by the hundred, wire loom by the roll, relays ten at a time and they are cheaper than the parts store's single item.

Dwight

Del City - Electrical Supplies & Professional Grade Wiring Products

[d46wade]

Waytek Wire is your best electrical parts supplier for automotive....was in wire harness business 12 years....spending thousands annually with these very dependable people...

[Large Arbor]

I just ran a braided ground wire from the starter base to the transmission ground. It fit perfect. I cannot imaging anything that is not grounded now!

Patrick - If you are thinking of going the way of all men in the earth early perhaps you could donate your can to Dan or me. I think we could use all of the spare parts.

Phil

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Large Arbor

Patrick - If you are thinking of going the way of all men in the earth early perhaps you could donate your can to Dan or me. I think we could use all of the spare parts.

I have no plans at the present....

[CompClassics]

FYI
If you do not have a good ground between the engine and the chassis and chassis to the battery the electrical current will create its own ground path, this is not a good for your mechanical components! The current will travel through whatever means possible to get back to the battery and completing the circuit. The current can travel through bearings and races, gears, etc. and cause pitting and ultimately failure in those components.

[Large Arbor]

Yes, I have seen the many ground posts. I have many grounds throughout my vehicle and at the present, have no issues.

Phil