Fuel filler ground connection

[ungodly]

While working on my 16' SeaRay BR, I replaced the fuel filler neck and hose (with same part as OE - Perko w/ integral ground connection). Lo and behold, after doing all the work on the filler end, I wanted to check the ground connection at the other end of the wire. It was just flopping around unattached back in the transom area. It has a rather large eyelet on the loose end, so I was going to assume it goes to (-) battery terminal. Then I thought better of assuming and figured I'd check here... Does anybody know where this ground strap should lead to? Incidentally, the entire strap is about 36" long (double what I need to get to the battery), and is fairly heavy (8ga, possibly 6ga).<br />Thanks, Rich

 

[MIKE F]

Re: Fuel filler ground connection

The fuel filler neck, should be grounded, to the tank. The tank,in turn, should be grounded, to the battery.<br />Don't know why you have, a heavy gauge wire (unless Sea Ray had an actual bonding strap in there - which I doubt in a 16'er). Are you sure, it's not for something else?<br />Is there something not working? Has something electrical been removed from the boat?<br />Also, can you check continuity, from the wire at the fuel fill, and the negative terminal at the battery, without that other wire attached.

 

[ungodly]

Re: Fuel filler ground connection

Mike,<br /><br />Thanks for the reply... Here goes: The fuel filler is not grounded to the tank (at least not now). The tank is made of high density plastic, and the only fittings on it are the fuel hose barb going to the motor, the filler hose fitment, and the sending unit apparatus. Definitely no place that a large eyelet would be attached. I can't say for sure that the heavy wire wasn't designed for or placed in the boat for some other purpose, there's just no obvious connections or piece of equipment around that would need such a large ground. The only thing electrical not working at the moment are the forward navigation lights (bad fuse holder in control panel). No continuity from filler neck to (-) terminal. Do you see any harm in grounding the filler directly to the battery? It's most likely overkill, because I'm premixing fuel and filling boat from HDPE gas can (no filler nozzle contact with filler neck). Thanks again for all your help...<br />Rich

 

[Hawkeye1]

Re: Fuel filler ground connection

The battery is where that ground is suppose to be. Thats why it has the big terminal. That sending unit should have a ground to the battery also.