5 replies to this topic

[Jollyrogers]

So when I ran 6awg from truck to my non-isolated DCDC 30amp charger I ran both + and - the whole way. It works ok it seems. But in hindsight I could have saved some$ I think. Other than saving on copper, and finding another use for it, would I gain anything by just taking the -/ground to the truck frame?

[kmcintyre]

I guess you could save a bit since the neg terminal on the battery goes to the frame.  When I ran my wire though, it was a 2 strand wire but never thought about just purchasing a single strand wire and then buying a shorter piece for ground.

 

The benefit would be that you could run a thicker guage single wire that would be the same thickness as a double wire.  Um... 

[rubberlegs]

I can’t locate it now, but somewhere I’ve read that resistance through the vehicle frame can be higher than you think.

[Vic Harder]

Grounding problems are common enough that I would avoid those and run separate wires.

[Jollyrogers]

OK, thanks!!! It wasn’t a stupid question after all :-)

[billharr]

Grounding problems are common enough that I would avoid those and run separate wires.

 

This.  The ground wire may/will save lots of headaches.