Electrics Ground wire upgrade

[PTR]

As I am an electrical engineer it has always disturbed me that the Civ does not have a Battery negative to engine block direct contact.
I know copper is expensive and productions cost etc. etc.
So I made the cable by myself:
DSCN7694.jpg
It is a 25mm2 very flexible copper cable covered with mesh. I let it just a bit longer because of engine vibration.
It might looks like a bit odd but it is mainly becuase of the flash and the close pic. In reality it is hardly noticable.
I fixed the other point on the cylinder head in a free hole
(the hole for the engine removing calmp)
DSCN7704.jpg
When I have finished with this there are two more original cable from the engine block to the chassis and from gearbox to the chassis.
I have removed the original isolation and practically doubled up the diameter of the cable then I covered it with the mesh:
DSCN7701.jpg
DSCN7705.jpg
Of course I cleaned every contacts and now all of them are crimped and soldered in the same time.
I don't see any real change in the working of the electrical devices but I feel much better now. The only thing is that the starter rotates the engine more confident (feels like). I think in the winter the positive effect of the upgrade will be more noticable. (And for the diesels this mod could help even more!)

[TTDegs]

so when are you going to start selling us this kit then PTR?

Seriously though, more / better earthing can only be a good thing - nicely done sir!

[jonokimber]

as an electrical engineer can you tell us if there is a way we can check the efficacy of this upgrade as you call it?

Can i check various points of my car for resistance maybe? Or is it more to do with current carrying capability?

Seems to me, as a medium knowledge kind of guy that my car, in fact all my cars have never had any trouble delivering the current to the devices i have tried to use.

Are you suggesting maybe that increased resistance in the circuit will be stealing voltage from the devices that need as much V as possible?

I'd appreciate an explanation as i am curious.

[jayt43]

Impressive. Good job PTR!

[PTR]

as an electrical engineer can you tell us if there is a way we can check the efficacy of this upgrade as you call it?

ok just think on a cable, if you connect another with it paralelly then the final resistance will be much less compared to the original cable.
less resistance is "easier" current carrying -> less voltage drop
so doubleing up a cable has only good effects.
car manufacturers use the minimum necessary diameter (production costs)

if there is some voltage drop at the devices you won`t really notice it
(for ex. starter works just a bit slower, engine fan is slower, lights are darker)
noticable is only in that case when there is a massive grounding problem with lot of voltage drop.

Are you suggesting maybe that increased resistance in the circuit will be stealing voltage from the devices that need as much V as possible?

YES! for ex. starter needs as much V as possible..
original setup: batt neg. to chassis, chassis to gearbox, gearbox to engineblock + starter
(as long as the car is newish without rust this way is ok)
but my 25mm2 copper cable form batt neg. to engine block directly is far better.
all the older cars have this connection Honda wanted tos save some money I guess.

summary: if you keep your car original it's ok, with this mod it is def. a step forward. (but it's not too much noticable) if you have time, motivation (like me) to do it then go for it! it is always good to have proper grounding.

(was that a proper answer or have I forgotten something?)

[m4rky]

If you want to check for any voltage loss on the earthing points the easiest way I have found is

1. Connect a multimeter set on DC volts between the negative terminal on the battery and the other end on the engine block.

2. Prevent the engine from starting on cranking - the easiest way to do this is to wrap the key in silver foil so that it does not recongnise the transponder.

3. Crank the engine over and watch the multimeter. Any losses will be registered and a loss if over 0.5volts is significant

Hope this helps

[Pottsy]

You are more likely to get a girlfriend if you have a good earth cable.

Evidence? Look at the photo near the bottom of this:

Grounding Wire Kits

For info, the standard cable on the diesel:

ground.jpg

[PTR]

Pottsy,

is it your car on the pic?
where is this cable connected to? between gearbox and batt. neg.?

[m4rky]

Originally Posted by Pottsy

You are more likely to get a girlfriend if you have a good earth cable.Attachment 5681

I was going to order one but I can't see the present G/F being to chuffed - good earth or not

[Pottsy]

PTR, it is my car. The cable is the big brown copper one, and it goes from the gearbox to the chassis at the bottom right of the pic.

[jonokimber]

Well seeing that a piece of shiny copper cable can get me a new piece of ass (sorry for the derogatory tone ladies) i'm going to fit me one..

Actually, i'm not as my Civ is a company car and i can pretty much guarantee that by the time i have done 90,000 miles it'll still be mainly rust free and suffer no problems.

As for my wife's Focus, which we own, i might end up looking at that though.

Cheers for the replies....

Jon