neg wirer connection

[mulli2b]

I am fixing up a old jon boat. My guestion is, is it ok to run front of my boat neg to a bus bar then connect to the boat or do i need to run a line back to the neg on the battery.


Thanks

 

[turbinedoctor]

Re: neg wirer connection

Not sure exactly what you are asking but if you are wondering about using the alumimun skin of your boat as a conductor, I would not do that. I think it would cause corriosion to build up much faster then it normally would.

Durwood

 

[salt city jim]

Re: neg wirer connection

Please rethink doing that...Always run pos. and neg. to a buss bar and from there to the batteries... If you don't,the electricity will eat a hole in the skin of your boat.
Jim

PS. Welcome to best forum you could ever ask for.The people here are just great.Myself, I've not been here long,but I've learned so much, and these fine folks are the greatest at sharing there knowledge.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: neg wirer connection

Your negative terminal on the battery can be connected to a large-gauge wire which runs forward to a neg buss bar. As far as grounding the boat hull, that is part of "bonding" where you assure that your buss and main neg wire running to it from the battery is the path that stray volts take instead of your boat hull. All negs should eventually terminate at the battery.

However, previous poster is correct in saying that you shouldn't use your hull to be the negative path. THAT is bad. But bonding your hull *is* a good idea but a different subject entirely.

So yes, you do need to run a line back to the battery negative post. It must have a capacity that exceeds the combined amps of all the devices you will be running over that circuit.

 

[mulli2b]

Re: neg wirer connection

thanks for all the help!