gas tank grounding wire

[cowboyup]

I noticed on my aluminum gas tank that there's a place to mount a ground wire to discharge static electricity. Where do I terminate the other end without using a grounding plate...to the engine block? The stainless steel bolts that hold the outboard mounting bracket to the transom or negative side of the battery? Thanks for your help.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: gas tank grounding wire

...fan, Ground the tank to the negative side of the boats electrical system(battery). If you have an electric fuel gauge, the tank is already grounded.

 

[prockvoan]

Re: gas tank grounding wire

Another wire should be rap around and up the fuel line hose,bolted to the fill cap!

 

[cowboyup]

Re: gas tank grounding wire

thanks for your info fellas. No electric fuel gauge here, so to the neg. side of the battery it goes....Can't get to the fill cap or i'd do that one too.

 

[SeaHorse]

Re: gas tank grounding wire

Not so fast. The grounding system for the <br />tank and fuel fill depends on many factors. Here are some of the variables:<br />1) composition of the tank. <br />2) Composition of the fuel filler.<br />3) composition of the fuel filler cap and strap.<br />4) Whether or not the boat will be refueled while on a trailer.<br />The US Coast Guard has issued a Technical Bulletin recommending a change in the way plastic body fuel fills with metallic caps and straps are installed on boats that could be refueled while on a boat trailer. In this instance, these fills should never be attached to the boat's bonding system. <br /><br />Be sure you are following the latest recommendations for your exact application and fill methods. Don't rely on any "best guesses" or when installing this stuff.

 

[danie]

Re: gas tank grounding wire

A request to SeaHorse, plse confirm the grounding of my fuel tank.<br />It is a metal tank with fuel gauge with rubber hoses and plastic filler with plastic filler cap hanging on a chrome chain.<br />Thanks<br />D<br />Ps. The tank leaks at the gauge pickup gasket when very full. What gasket to use? And around the bolts?

 

[TenE307]

Re: gas tank grounding wire

sorry to hijack here! sea horse you have scared me. i dont want to explode in any way. i am currently in the process of installing my new plastic tank, and i have a metal filler, with plastic hoses. i currently have a bonding system that goes from the metal fuel fill to the negative side of the battery. this is all i could find on the coast guard website - Shipshape is Firesafe - http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/metlife/fire.htm -Be sure the fuel fill pipe is securely mounted, grounded, and located where spilled fuel would be directed overboard. Fuel fill hoses that are dry and cracked or soft and mushy should be replaced immediately.<br />where can i look for the technical bulletins?

 

[TenE307]

Re: gas tank grounding wire

here is the warning about Plastic Fuel Fill Grounding<br /><br /> http://www.uscgboating.org/alerts/alertsview.aspx?id=27

 

[SeaHorse]

Re: gas tank grounding wire

I don't know if there is a source that gives the proper setup for each combination of items. I just installed mine like this: plastic tank, gage sender grounded to fuel gage grounded to boat ground battery and outboard. Plastic filler/vent with metal chain and cap no ground wire. I will be refilling mainly from trailer but sometimes on the wet. I will carefully touch the gas filler to the metal cap to dissipate any static before opening the cap in all cases. I don't want to blow up either.<br /><br />TenE307... <br /><br /> ...You said you have "plastic hoses". I used the genuine USCG approved Goodyear 1 1/2 inch gas hose with is extremely hard to bend and/or cut. I couldn't cut it all the way through even with my 8 amp Porter Cable reciprocating saw. It has hardened wire imbedded in the rubber core to keep it from being flattened I guess. I had to cut that with linemen's pliers. The stuff can't be bent to a radius any smaller than about a foot or so making any kind of tube routing impossible. You also need the super heavy duty hose clamps that cost $5 each.