Ok with the advice of David re size of cable, connectors, etc i have commenced my earthing mod.

So far all i have done is make up a cable to run from the -ve of the starter motor back to the -ve of the battery, and one from the -ve of the battery to earth point near the passenger headlight.

This allows me to remove the standard earth cable in these locations, as i wanted to replace the -ve terminal block, without butchering the OEM cable.

I have then run a cable from the new -ve terminal block to an 8 way block located on the chasis leg.

Had to stop as my son was begin to use my sockets, spanners, etc on my car, well the paintwork.

Pics so far

New battery terminal

8 way block

Wire connected to starter



Steven

 

That is just too neat, won't work

Needs to be dirty and tatty wire like mine LOL!

Hope it drives a bit smoother??

JGM

 

Steven,

where did you get that battery terminal - he said jealously - and can I have one?

rannoch

 

Make sure your new earth cable is capable of carrying the same current, and is as heat resistant, as the OE stuff.

I'd recommend leaving existing cabling in place and just adding new....there's quite a lot of current drawn through these lines

Richard

 

I am reliably informed by Mr Wallis that the cable i am using is far more than capable of coping with the current and heat. It is thicker than the OEM stuff.

Rannoch, i will get you one if you like, let me know.

Simon, neat no way, i think it is messy, David will probably think it is rubbish by his standards

So far car is starting much quicker, but that is more than likely down to the lightened flywheel, which went in on Saturday.

Steven

 

Steven,

I too think this is one of the neatest earthing upgrades I have seen, you are quite brave to remove the existing earth straps but if it works then it is a much neater way to do it.

Go one, let us all know about the new battery terminal?

Andrew...

 

I think it is messy, still got more connections to do yet.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/ search for MX03D.

Getting worried about the cable now, allthough i will still rely on David.

Hopefully

Steven

 

Cable is 4 Awg.. more than cabable of carrying over 100A (as measured on my old car hifi system with a clamp meter)

Std Car ground is ****e.. so this way is more than up to it..

If its a prob then there will be a voltage drop..

David

 

Getting worried about the cable?

FFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are taking the p, aren't you!

The stuff you took off is three steps up from bell wire. You've replaced it with something that'll cheerfully handle 100A+, and you're worried?

You'll be fine.

 

Not worried now, as i said earlier i will rely on David's advice, and of course yours Nick, when it comes to voltage and all that stuf

Will check the link display to see if voltage has dropped.

Steven

 

ive started on mine too, due to some dodgy error codes i keep getting.

So far i have justed added a new cable to one of the exisitng points.
I also gave it a good clean as it was covered in ****!

Gonna add a couple more at the weekend.

 

Nice one Dan.

 

Steven If you are still worried about the wire size I have a mate who works at Drax powerstation. He may be able to get you some pylon wires. It only comes in drums of 10 mile lengths though.
Hope this helps
Cheers
Craig

 

Sorry for the aspersions But I thought the cable between battery and starter was rather heavy gauge. As long as new cable exceeds old specifications, as it apparently does, no problem.

Richard

 

Craig, LOL, where you been

Ricard, no worries

Steven

 

I agree with dowser. Although the cable may carry the current without any problems, is the insulation material resistant to engine temperatures, oils, fuels etc.
Some stuff I've used in the past for hi-fi installs has gone brittle and cracked after a year or so !

 

ive been using this cable and rockford fosgate since 1998 and mine is fine still so

 

Work,work,work mate.
will try to get to the next meet.
cheers

Craig

 

Very impressive
If at all possible could you post the specs for the wire, the terminal you used for the earth point and the multi way block, I want to do this but don't want it to pop.

Thanks

Vince

 

Craig,

100mm Suction Tubing????

Mail me

David

 

Vinny i will, when i finish it

Suppose i could start now

All bits were purchased from maplins, see link above.

20 metres of Black (in fact it is brown) 8AWG cable (way too much, but i like to be safe than sorry) part no BZ93B

3 meters of black 4AWG cable (again too much) part no CK17T

1 Multi way Teminal for negative of battery part no MX03D

1 Distribution block (2 4AWG points and 8 8AWG points) part no CN97F

8 Ring terminals 8AWG part no CN93B

1 Ring terminal 4AWG part no CN94C

1 Multi Terminal Cover (Optional) part no DN13P

Some heat shrink, some solder, etc.

1 x 4AWG goes from new battery terminal to starter and 1 x 4AWG goes from new battery terminal to 8 way block.

1 x 8AWG goes from new battery terminal to standard chasis earth above passenger headlight.

Thats it for now, rest to follow.

Steven

 

So that's where they all went!!

Bought a pack of two on Tuesday, asked them to order a further half dozen packs.
Went in today, dopey turns round and says to me.. "none in the warehouse, won't get them in until 18th June" !!!!

Went to Halfords (Shhh!!!) as a last resort. £4 for a pack of two!!! Aye right!!!

I've asked a mate who owns a hi-fi shop to order terminals from Autoleads, but has anyone any suggestions where to get some, cause i want it out the way sooner rather than later.

Alan

 

Alan, to be fair i got 6 of mine from a car hifi store and 2 from Halford, halfords were only £3 for 2. I ordered mine a week last Wednesday, too impatient so bought elsewhere.

Posted the part number here, as they are considerably cheaper from maplins

Rannoch, i have got you a terminal today.

Steven

 

Steve thanks

Vince

 

I actually looked at the wire in the Maplin catalogue but they say:

Which is what worried me

Vince



[Edited by VinnyP - 5/9/2003 7:20:17 PM]

 

You can get all the cable and lug's you require from any decent electrical wholesaler and it will be a lot cheaper
Or if you are an electrician get the parts for nothing!!!!!!

Paul

 

Vinny, it is not Supplying any motor parts, it is merely the negative feed back to the battery.

As David said, given that it is used largely in supplying car hi fi systems and other such thinks, which sometimes require massive power, they seem to cope, so they should be fine for the earthing mod process.

After i drove home tonight, i immediately got out and felt the cable from the starter for excessive heat. None what so ever, stone cold. So i am convinced.

If David AND Nick say it is ok, then i have no problem with it whatsoever, they both know their stuff when it comes to electrics and cabling, if that fails then David's dad is the ultimate back up as a knowledge base

Some of the earthing mods i have seen use cable that is just way too thin IMO, and thats my opinion, if you are going to do something, do it right, thats my philosophy, well at least i try to make it so.

Steven

 

it is designed for car systems but works fine

its probably more down to the fact people would use 8awg.. and not 4

David

 

Ok will order it up

Thanks all

Vince

 

tonka............did'nt know you had any mates............

Dremel.