"CCred68046" wrote in message
...
I'll stay out of it for now, however you are
mistaken Cred about "almost guaranteeing" engine electrics are grounded,
indeed most proper marine engine electrics are not.


How can they not be? Every DC and AC motor I know of requires a + and -
current to run. I consider the - to be ground. The outdrive is connected
to the
engine which must have a + and - (or ground) to run, and is fastened to
the
metal hull. If theres no continuity there you will have to show me with a
VOM.

True marine electrics even on big diesels where the spark risk is
minimal, have all their electrics above ground.

Define "above ground". Again, they require a positive and negitive to
operate.


The starters &
alternators etc have their own earth returns kept above the cases, so if
the user/engine manufacturer chooses you can have a completely above
ground system with none of the electrics able to get to the prop shaft
etc via the block.

And the block is grounded (or negitive) and is connected metal to metal to
the
metal outdrive which is bolted to the metal hull. The connection might
not be
the best but it is there and I have to believe its making a pretty decent
connection. I have an aluminum boat with an outboard and there is
definately
continuity from the hull to the motor.. It would take some pretty serious
custom made isolators to stop it.
I can admit it when I'm wrong so if someone can show me that I am I would
like
to know how they work.


There is no requirement for the coil(s) to be grounded to the case. While I
have no experience with a floating ground in a 12 or 24 volt ignitions, all
high voltage motors and generators that I have ever worked with are isolated
from the frame. There is no practical reason that a low voltage system
can't be wired the same way.

The only area where it may be difficult to separate the ground from the
frame is the spark plugs. Even this is not an insurmountable problem; it is
possible to make a spark plug with two electrodes. The only place I have
seen this used in practice is turbine APUs.

Mark Browne