Hercules

Just wanted to hear if anybody got their ohm meter out and checked.... I scraped the paint off a spot but it seems to have a so-so connection, so I want to get a nicer ground point. Much obliged for any help, the alternator whine in my car is slight, but enough to be very annoying

jstkilntim

While poking around the trunk this evening, using my trusty Fluke 87 III and a 10 foot jumper wire (#12 stranded wire w/ alligator clips on each end), I set out on a mission. To find a good ground.

I first hooked one end of the jumper wire to the bolt on the negative battery terminal & one end to the negative meter lead. Placing the positive meter lead on the same bolt, I "zeroed" my meter in the Relative & 4 1/2 Digit Mode. Heading back to the trunk and under the rear seat, I checked all bolts, brackets etc. that have been recommended above. Most read from .00 - .01 ohms. I re-zeroed and read them several times and came up with the same readings each time.

While taking these readings and focasing on low impedence, I realized that I have foolishly been overlooking one of the most crucial elements of any electrical circuit. If I have a #2 power wire (which I plan on using for about 1300W), what makes me think I can ground this system to the chassis anyway when the largest ground from the battery is a #4? (Without tracing the 3 ground wires through the loom, I am assuming the large one goes to the starter & the smaller 2 to various body or electrical components.) Anyone remember which way current flows? I see catastophic failure in the future! The ground wire ALWAYS has to be as large, or larger, than the power wire. Why do we forget the basic stuff?