earthing electrics

[sq1nty]

I'm looking at installing a redarc BCDC1225 and in the manual it says that all ground points must be connected to chassis earth. To make it look neater can I have one ground going to chassis then on the inside of cab have a Bus Bar and have the rest of the earths going to this? If so what size cable would it have to be? cheers

[numberplate]

no need for a bus bar , if you run longer wires than required for an earth you are simply adding unwanted resistance. just connect to the existing earth points and it will be fine.

[MarkTGood]

That will be fine.

The reason they specify it that was is that some vehicles have a shunt in the -ve battery post that's used to determine current draw for use in conjunction with a smart alternator. In this case earthing directly to the battery post bypasses the shunt and you can end up drawing more from the battery than the alternator is supplying. PX Rangers are prone to this.

Mark

[numberplate]

I didnt know that about the Ranger ,and although considering one I had rejected it for for other reasons , namely Fords crap service and support.
New Hiluxes dont use a current shunt , so that wont apply to us. I havent looked into it too deeply but i suspect our alternators use canbus signals from the active devices to determine charge rate.

[martynvella]

if that's the case your in trouble because there is nothing to tell it there is a fridge drawing power.
There would have to be a battery voltage sensor or would never be able to add any electrical accessories.
I am not saying your wrong as I have never seen a schematic or operating principles sheet of the new hilux, just saying it would be silly to design such a system, doesn't mean they haven't.

[Dylan 191]

Just about to start adding fridge and compressor power to the tub , what's the best way to earth , chassis or back to battery ?
Running twin core so no dramas going back to the battery

Cheers
Dylan

[scottellis88]

Like said above run it in the shortest possible route. Like water electricity will flow to ground with the path of least resistance. Therefore longer cables = more resistance. Unless you want to run a huge cable just run to the nearest point on your chassis. It will all be bonded together in some way or another.

[martynvella]

Havent worked on a new model yet but the older one never had a decent earth wire to the tub, just a pissy thin one in the lighting harness. If you are going to ground heavy loads to the tub I recommend using a decent bit of 6mm or even 6B&S from the gearbox to the tub.

[Dylan 191]

Thanks guys , will just earth to the chassis near the tub .

Cheers
Dylan

[Bschotty]

Any chance of some photos or a detailed description of the chassis earth point for the second battery in the tub? Installing mine next week.
Cheers!

- Ben

[TOYZX]

Run a big wire out of the tub with your other wire and ground it directly to the chassis. Thats what I do anyway.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

[Bschotty]

Run a big wire out of the tub with your other wire and ground it directly to the chassis. Thats what I do anyway.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

How big? 2 gauge?

[TOYZX]

I usually use 2b&s. So yeah 2 gauge is plenty.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

[Bschotty]

Awesome. Thanks.