Outer Limits 4x4 Board

What's everyone's opinions on wiring the negative cable on extra connections, eg Anderson plugs?

I have tended to connect back to the chassis (not the body) as it makes for a great return line, plus saves on cable/money. I've installed replacement headlight wiring and have run to the chassis and I show a 0.3v (or is that 0.03V?) drop which can be easily attributed to the innaccuracy in the multimeter. I've also done the rear/reverse lights like this too. I know a lot of people say to run cable back to the battery but is it overkill?

Isn't the engine block/alternator/starter connected to the chassis anyways as well so if it's good enough for those then it must be OK for extra connections?

Thoughts please.

It would be worth checking where the negative cable(s) from battery are actually terminated to on your vehicle- is it your chassis or body?

If you're going to rely on the body/ chassis then I'd run an additional heavy duty cable to the chassis/ body directly from the battery. All the vehicles I've had tend to be lacking a bit in that area. I've also never found the battery negative running directly to the chassis itself, both the vehicles I've owned (with a separate body and chassis) have had a rather meagre cable running to the body and another running to the engine itself. Your engine will probably have an earth to the chassis - but it would be worth checking.

When I installed my twin thermofans I actually ran an earth cable directly to both of them from the battery- just to be sure voltage drops would be minimal. I also ran an extra earth to the engine head while I was at it.

TheOtherLeft wrote: Isn't the engine block/alternator/starter connected to the chassis anyways as well so if it's good enough for those then it must be OK for extra connections?

Thoughts please.

the engine has an earth wire running directly between it and the battery.

murcod wrote:It would be worth checking where the negative cable(s) from battery are actually terminated to on your vehicle- is it your chassis or body?

If you're going to rely on the body/ chassis then I'd run an additional heavy duty cable to the chassis/ body directly from the battery. All the vehicles I've had tend to be lacking a bit in that area. I've also never found the battery negative running directly to the chassis itself, both the vehicles I've owned (with a separate body and chassis) have had a rather meagre cable running to the body and another running to the engine itself. Your engine will probably have an earth to the chassis - but it would be worth checking.

I've already upgraded the neg cable from the battery to the body using 8 gauge cable (from a previous mod). Do you think this is enough or should I be running another cable from the batt to the chassis?

8 gauge isn't very big if that's all you've got running to the body?

If you're earthing off the chassis then I would run a heavy gauge cable to that as well- it certainly won't hurt.

and remember, things that are earthed to the chassis/body are an ok connection. but do you want a connection that is ok or a connection that is good?

murcod wrote:8 gauge isn't very big if that's all you've got running to the body?

If you're earthing off the chassis then I would run a heavy gauge cable to that as well- it certainly won't hurt.

The 8 gauge is the extra connection I have to the body. There are still the factory connections from the engine/alt to the battery.

I might put another connection from battery to the chassis