When running lines to, say the bilge, or to a navigation light, is it best
to run two wires, one coming back to the ground on the panel, or just ground
it there not far from the use? It's a basic question, but I just wondered
if there's any difference.

Steve

On Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:53:52 -0700, "SteveB"
wrote:

When running lines to, say the bilge, or to a navigation light, is it best
to run two wires, one coming back to the ground on the panel, or just ground
it there not far from the use? It's a basic question, but I just wondered
if there's any difference.

Steve


This should tell you what you want to know.
http://www.sheridanhouse.com/excerpt...ngexcerpt.html

--Vic

SteveB wrote:
When running lines to, say the bilge, or to a navigation light, is it best
to run two wires, one coming back to the ground on the panel, or just ground
it there not far from the use? It's a basic question, but I just wondered
if there's any difference.

Steve


A circuit is not complete without positive and negative wires going to
the battery. If you want to share grounds, the ground wire must be of
sufficient size to carry the current of all the devices that use the
common ground at any given time. It is not good practice to share bilge
pump grounds, however.

On Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:10:37 -0500, Jim wrote:

SteveB wrote:
When running lines to, say the bilge, or to a navigation light, is it best
to run two wires, one coming back to the ground on the panel, or just ground
it there not far from the use? It's a basic question, but I just wondered
if there's any difference.

Steve


A circuit is not complete without positive and negative wires going to
the battery. If you want to share grounds, the ground wire must be of
sufficient size to carry the current of all the devices that use the
common ground at any given time. It is not good practice to share bilge
pump grounds, however.

Agreed and something that is not often considered when using common
grounds. It's also a good idea to use a bus bar to ground as the
common load is distributed much more betterer.

I do that on all the boats I've owned over the years including the
Grady. One extra little advantage of having a common bus bar ground
is trouble shooting - labels help a lot.

Tom Francis - SWSports wrote:
On Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:10:37 -0500, Jim wrote:

SteveB wrote:
When running lines to, say the bilge, or to a navigation light, is it best
to run two wires, one coming back to the ground on the panel, or just ground
it there not far from the use? It's a basic question, but I just wondered
if there's any difference.

Steve


A circuit is not complete without positive and negative wires going to
the battery. If you want to share grounds, the ground wire must be of
sufficient size to carry the current of all the devices that use the
common ground at any given time. It is not good practice to share bilge
pump grounds, however.

Agreed and something that is not often considered when using common
grounds. It's also a good idea to use a bus bar to ground as the
common load is distributed much more betterer.

I do that on all the boats I've owned over the years including the
Grady. One extra little advantage of having a common bus bar ground
is trouble shooting - labels help a lot.

Electrical problems can be quite vexing. labeling and isolating are
excellent tools. You are a wise man.

On Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:53:52 -0700, "SteveB"
wrote:

When running lines to, say the bilge, or to a navigation light, is it best
to run two wires, one coming back to the ground on the panel, or just ground
it there not far from the use? It's a basic question, but I just wondered
if there's any difference.

Steve

An indication of how basically stupid you are. I hope the boat is
aluminum.

On Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:45:28 -0500, Jim wrote:

Tom Francis - SWSports wrote:
On Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:10:37 -0500, Jim wrote:

SteveB wrote:
When running lines to, say the bilge, or to a navigation light, is it best
to run two wires, one coming back to the ground on the panel, or just ground
it there not far from the use? It's a basic question, but I just wondered
if there's any difference.

Steve


A circuit is not complete without positive and negative wires going to
the battery. If you want to share grounds, the ground wire must be of
sufficient size to carry the current of all the devices that use the
common ground at any given time. It is not good practice to share bilge
pump grounds, however.

Agreed and something that is not often considered when using common
grounds. It's also a good idea to use a bus bar to ground as the
common load is distributed much more betterer.

I do that on all the boats I've owned over the years including the
Grady. One extra little advantage of having a common bus bar ground
is trouble shooting - labels help a lot.

Electrical problems can be quite vexing. labeling and isolating are
excellent tools. You are a wise man.

Bwaaaaahaaaahaaaahaaaaa!

On Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:30:37 -0500, Gene
wrote:

On Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:54:27 -0800, jps wrote:

On Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:53:52 -0700, "SteveB"
wrote:

When running lines to, say the bilge, or to a navigation light, is it best
to run two wires, one coming back to the ground on the panel, or just ground
it there not far from the use? It's a basic question, but I just wondered
if there's any difference.

Steve

An indication of how basically stupid you are. I hope the boat is
aluminum.

What difference would that make? unless you intend to electroplate the
prop with the hull.....

Exactly. My best wishes for the original poster.

On Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:38:40 -0800, jps wrote:

On Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:30:37 -0500, Gene
wrote:

On Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:54:27 -0800, jps wrote:

On Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:53:52 -0700, "SteveB"
wrote:

When running lines to, say the bilge, or to a navigation light, is it best
to run two wires, one coming back to the ground on the panel, or just ground
it there not far from the use? It's a basic question, but I just wondered
if there's any difference.

Steve

An indication of how basically stupid you are. I hope the boat is
aluminum.

What difference would that make? unless you intend to electroplate the
prop with the hull.....

Exactly. My best wishes for the original poster.

"Whatever happened to that black bitch who was screeching Obama was
going to buy her gas and make her payments? A follow up interview
with her would be interesting."

Steve

"Gene" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:54:27 -0800, jps wrote:

On Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:53:52 -0700, "SteveB"
wrote:

When running lines to, say the bilge, or to a navigation light, is it
best
to run two wires, one coming back to the ground on the panel, or just
ground
it there not far from the use? It's a basic question, but I just
wondered
if there's any difference.

Steve

An indication of how basically stupid you are. I hope the boat is
aluminum.

What difference would that make? unless you intend to electroplate the
prop with the hull......
--
It is usually futile to try to talk facts and analysis to people who are
enjoying a sense of moral superiority in their ignorance.
-Thomas Sowell

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

Homepage
http://pamandgene.tranquilrefuge.net/boating/the_boat/my_boat.htm

Forté Agent 6.00 Build 1181

You'll have to forgive jps. He knows everything there is to know, and is
quite vexed by those of us who don't. I take the easy way out, and have him
killfiled.

Steve