You do run a wire to the engine, usually 2 gauge, but only one. Many
boats ends up using the engine block as a ground bus with wires hooked
up all over it.
Joe
On 5/30/2020 8:01 AM, Brian Davis via CnC-List wrote:
Thanks, Joe!
I did get a galvanic isolatot, but forgot to say that. The Blue Sea
bus link you sent is exactly what i have. But what does that connect
to? If not the engine then where?
Brian
On Sat, May 30, 2020, 7:53 AM Joe Della Barba via CnC-List
<cnc-list@cnc-list.com <mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>> wrote:
Don't use the engine for ship's ground. Use one of these:
https://www.bluesea.com/products/2127/MaxiBus_250A_BusBar_-_Four_5_16in-18_Studs
Your AC ground bus will connect to that ground point as well.
Speaking of AC, make sure you have a galvanic isolator.
Run ONE ground wire to the engine. You don't want your engine
block to be a routine conductor of electricity.
Here is your lightning ground conundrum: The old way was to
connect all metal together. Coquina came with a ground wire system
that connected every single thru-hull, the mast step, the engine
and the keel. The problem with that is if the zinc does not work
perfectly, you can have electrolysis on a large scale since you
have all this metal wired together. I undid all that, no
thru-hulls are wired to anything. The mast is wired to a keel bolt
with 4 gauge wire. The ship's ground bus is wired to the engine
with one ground wire.
Joe Coquina
On 5/30/2020 7:32 AM, Brian Davis via CnC-List wrote:
Hello everyone,
Hope you quarantine projects are going well.
I have a question about grounding. I'm currently refitting ALL
wiring from scratch on our 1980 Landfall 38. I literally gutted
every piece of wire and bought all new Ancor tinned marine cables
in every guage you can imagine. She's coming along swimmingly,
and I've mapped everything out pretty well in a 8 page layered
diagram that I'm happy to email direct to anyone who wants it.
It's in PowerPoint and about 8mg.
My question about Grounding is if it's ok to use my engine as the
grounding point? I'm using the similar area for the Negative
connection for the 3 battery banks, but a different bolt to the
engine case. Several appliances including the breaker panels,
ACR, battery charger, water heater, fuel tank, etc require a
ground and I'm using a 6 awg green wire from the engine to a
large Blue Sea busbar. Then connected the grounds to it.
I've also run a 2awg wire from the mast step to the keel bolt and
to one of the stanchion bases from underneath for lightning
protection. However I kept that all separated and not connected
to the grounding.
Make sense? Or am I missing something? Again, happy to send my
diagram for review.
Regards,
Brian
South FL
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_______________________________________________
Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and
every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal
to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
_______________________________________________
Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and
every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal
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