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Old 07-25-2013, 12:37 PM   #1
Hex
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Quick DC Electrical Question

Hey, I'm thinking I'm going to go for my house batteries and wiring as my next big investment, so I'm thinking about my DC wiring.

I'm just wondering how people have closed their loops for DC outlets and lights that they've put in. Do you ground to the frame/skin and then just connect the negative on the house battery to that as well? Or do you run a full return line back to the battery?

Thanks!

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Old 07-25-2013, 12:45 PM   #2
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Re: Quick DC Electrical Question

My bus has a fiberglass body so I had to ground all my wiring runs back at the battery box, but with a schoolie's steel body you can ground right at the fixture saving a lot of wire. I use dielectric grease (available wherever electric supplies are sold) on all my ground connections to avoid corrosion. Not strictly necessary, but may save some circuit chasing later.
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Old 07-25-2013, 12:56 PM   #3
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Re: Quick DC Electrical Question

Just grounded everything to the body. No issues whatsoever.
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Old 07-25-2013, 01:27 PM   #4
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Re: Quick DC Electrical Question

Thanks. And you just run the negative pole of the battery back to the body? Awesome.

Cuts the cost of my wiring in half ... ;)
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Old 07-25-2013, 01:41 PM   #5
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Re: Quick DC Electrical Question

If you look at your starter battery, find the ground wire and trace it back to where it termintes. Ours terminates on the chassis. We grounded our DC to either the steel body or the steel frame with the frame being the preferred ground.
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Old 07-25-2013, 01:57 PM   #6
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Re: Quick DC Electrical Question

I would make sure and have a good heavy wire between the frame and the body...incase the body is really isolated good with rubber

Will help the electrical path when it can go straight from the body thru strap and to battery

like these
or at least this
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Old 07-25-2013, 02:08 PM   #7
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Re: Quick DC Electrical Question

Okay, forgot to mention that it needs a very good, bare metal connection.

How dat?
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