Grounding gas tank

[finx]

So I'm not really an electrical guy. I know how to work a light switch and that outlet sockets are not car key cleaners like my brother used to tell me. Thats about it.


I read some posts and diagrams about gas tanks.

My vent cap is aluminum and pops out starboard side. Do I also need to ground this? I know the filler cap, aluminum tank, and sending unit all need to be grounded to the negative battery but I was a bit unsure about the vent cap. Thanks!

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Grounding gas tank

No need to ground the vent cap. The tank should be grounded and the filler cap (if metal) so that there is no static electricity discharge when the fuel nozzle touches or leaves the opening. Vent is connected to the tank/fill hose by a rubber hose.

 

[finx]

Re: Grounding gas tank

awesome! Also, my tank never did have a tab for a ground. I could use a ground bracket pretty much anywhere. does the ground placement matter on the tank itself? I was thinking up by the filler tube or the vent tube because the sender would have its own ground on the other side of the tank.

Also, everywhere I read it says that not to mix copper and aluminum. Should I use aluminum ground wire?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Grounding gas tank

The fuel tank sender normally has a ground tab for a spade connector, or a ring terminal is placed under one of the sender mounting screws. If the tank doesn't have any other ground tabs or brackets, use one of the sender mounting screws. The entire tank is metal so the fact that the sender is screwed to it means the same method (ring terminal) can be attached to a mounting screw to ground the tank..

 

[KC DREW]

Re: Grounding gas tank

My tank has a ground on the tank but not on the filler.

 

[finx]

Re: Grounding gas tank

thanks! what gauge wire did you use? Did you use copper or aluminum wire? Isnt there a issue with mixing metals?

 

[jhebert]

Re: Grounding gas tank

Isnt there a issue with mixing metals?

Marine-grade wire is copper wire. Aluminum wire is never used on boats.