Dumb question about basic boat wiring

Buergday · Guest

I realize that this may be a stupid question, but where is the best place to ground electronics in a boat - due to the lack of metal framing? I know I can ground to the negative battary terminal, but is it looks like there are a bunch of ground wires under my dash that are mounted to various bolts. Are these bolts somehow grounded to the battery or something? Can I just ground my new lights to one of these bolts even though there is something else grounded at that same point?????

OttoNP · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 848 City: MI

All the ground points on a boat are connected, including the block and negative battery terminal. You can connect to any of them as long as the path back to the alternator/battery can support the number of amps your putting through it. How many watts are your lights?

Nick
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Glass Weed Pipe

Buergday · Guest

Thanks Otto - they're 55 watt

OttoNP · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 848 City: MI

55 Watts will pull about 4.6 amps each, so if you have 2 that's about 10 amps and 4 would be around 20 amps. Just be sure the ground path back to the alternator/battery as well as the power supply can handle how ever many additional amps. I'm guessing there is some kind of bus bar under the dash, remember that you adding to whatever other electronics are already using that. If there are a lot of things using that ground you may want to run another separate one back to the battery or engine block.

Nick
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GM FAMILY 0 ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS

coachsambo · Newbie Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 16 City: austin Texas

I want to connect my bilge pump to an open accessory switch. There is three prongs on the back of it. Two of them already have red and black on them. I take it red for power and black for ground. If I connect the hot wire of the bilge pump to the open prong, will that give it power. Then, where do I ground the other cable of the bilge pump to. The battery? Help, draining battery.