Should boat fuel filler and tank breather be connected to battery negative?

[Steveo666]

I have a question which I have been debating with several people.

Should the stainless fuel filler and stainless fuel tank breather be connected to the negative terminal on the battery?

I.E. should they be earthed / grounded?

Boat is inboard mercruiser with sterndrive.

 

[GA_Boater]

Yes. And a link to a blog with multiple sources, including the USCG to win your argument and maybe save a life or two. https://boatbuild.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/grounding-a-plastic-gas-tank/

The blog opening statement explains why tanks, fillers and vents should be connected to ground;

Gas sloshing in a tank (even a plastic one) can generate static electricity. Gas flowing from a fill hose into the tank can do the same. If the electricity sparks, it can ignite the gas fumes, causing an explosion. Grounding the parts should keep that from happening.

 

[Chris1956]

Also, the fuel gauge sender unit should be grounded. Actually, if the gas gauge works, the sender and gauge are grounded.

 

[Bondo]

I.E. should they be earthed / grounded?

Ayuh,..... Not exactly,......

The fuel system needs to be Bonded,.....
It's usually a green wire that ties the tank, filler, 'n bits to the motor's block, to stop static electricity,....
Granted, the block is grounded to the battery negative post, but it's not necessarily groundin' the Bonded fuel system,.....

 

[CNT]

Just asking (relating to topic)… is this why we now use plastic gas tanks, since metal (portable) tanks can catch electrical?

 

[GA_Boater]

Just asking (relating to topic)… is this why we now use plastic gas tanks, since metal (portable) tanks can catch electrical?

Plastic tank can generate just as much static buildup as metal. Maybe more.

 

[Redrig]

Thanks for posting this .

I recently did some interior work that involved moving the gas tank and I replaced everything exactly as it was.

My filler is grounded but the breather is not , I will have to extend a wire down to it

 

[CNT]

Could you take a photo of it? I like to see how's it done. Is there a YouTube about it?

 

[Steveo666]

Thanks everyone for the confirmation.

I understand the concept. I've just had difficulty trying to convince others that this is the case.

Bonded, earthed, grounded....I supposed Bonded sounds the best in a marine / aquatic environment.