Please Help!!

[Jamontes]

I have been doing extensive research on adding a battery to my old aluminum boat. I am trying to figure out how to ground the negative terminal of thebattery. I have installed a trolling motor and a 12v plug to charge a phone but I am not sure how to ground the battery. I understand that I should run all wires to the battery terminals so where will it be grounded at?? Do I run a wire somewhere on the hull to the negative battery post?? Thanx for any help. By the way I have a small 5 hp pull start motor that doesn't need any battery power.

 

[pootnic]

Re: Please Help!!

No...never use the hull(aluminum) as a ground.
The negative poll on the battery will be fine(as is) or you can use some type of bus bar(if switches wanted).
For those couple things, just fuse/breaker the positive wire at(near) the battery and negative to negative poll on battery.

 

[Jamontes]

Re: Please Help!!

Thanx do much for the quick response...just so we are clear...I don't ground anything?? I have a 50amp breaker for the trolling motor but nothing for the 12v plug...should I have an inline fuse on the 12v?

 

[pootnic]

Re: Please Help!!

Polls on the battery are fine.
I'd fuse the plug as well.I know you say to charge a cell phone but chances are you will put something in it that draws alittle more power.
Fuse accordingly,possible 15amp.
Keep your breaker and fuse close to the battery,positive side.
EDIT:in case your wondering why you don't use the hull as a ground...electrolysis/corrosion/oxidization,
not good things to hear when talking about your aluminum boat.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Please Help!!

Just so you know, yes -- must GROUND every electrical accessory on the boat or it won't work. The NEGATIVE terminal of the battery IS the ground. Current flows from the postive terminal, into a switch, out of the switch, into the device, through the device, then back to the negative terminal of the battery. That is called a "complete circuit".

 

[Jamontes]

Re: Please Help!!

Thanx for the advice guys. I hooked up the trolling motor on a 50amp breaker and I have installed an inline fuse to the 12v plug.....all seems to be working fine...thanx again.