10 ga wire for grounding straps??

[Audog]

Is 10 ga large enough for battery to body and engine to body grounding straps? This would be in addition to the ground from batt to engine.

 

[Apogee]

10 guage multi-stranded copper wires are generally capable of handling up to 100 Amps at 12 VDC over short runs and for short periods of time...when it doubt, go bigger than you think you need or run multiple conductors in parallel.

 

[Audog]

I am not real sure what you just said....

 

[Gerbow]

I am not real sure what you just said....

Hahaha funny stuff....;D

 

[SK67]

Short answer, No!
I would go 4ga.

 

[Viperwolf1]

The size would be fine if the electrical equipment was stock. If you have additional lights or other equipment that's grounded to the body it may not be. Generally it's not good practice to use insulated wire as a ground strap. Moisture can get in under the insulation and cause corrosion. Better to use a braided copper strap.

 

[Broncobowsher]

If you have the 10 gauge already, go ahead and use it. It will be fine for everything except really big current stuff (starter and alternator). For adding the extra grounds to make the turn signals work right and the little stuff it is more then enough.

 

[Apogee]

I am not real sure what you just said....

Which part?

As Viperwolf pointed out, an actual grounding strap would be a much better choice, but that's I was just trying to answer your question. You're really better off sizing your wires for power consumption versus just current, but I was trying to keep things simple...you know what they say about the best laid plans though. ;D

 

[jw0747]

look for ground straps in either the battery or Help section of most any auto parts store.
made for what you need. got some at Advance A.P. store.

 

[Crewwzin]

Short answer, No!
I would go 4ga.

Go big or go home. Go 1/0.

 

[Bronk]

10 Gauge is way too small for the amp load your going to put on it especially from the battery to ground

I love 1/0 cable ;D

 

[DirtDonk]

10 Gauge is way too small for the amp load your going to put on it especially from the battery to ground

I love 1/0 cable ;D

I love 1/0 too. Great stuff.
But he was asking just about the auxiliary grounding stuff. Engine to body, battery to body, stuff like that. Sounds like he's already using a standard ground cable from the battery to the engine.

For that, I'm in agreement with the others. The 10 would be ok for most things, but Viper stated a good reason the factories use exposed braided straps whenever feasible. Long term reliability.

When it comes right down to it though, 10 would be fine with your stock, or near stock loads, since that's what's commonly used in the factory EB and the aftermarket stuff too.
Just look at some replacement battery ground cables and you can find 10 gauge pigtails for the body connection quite common.
And the wire that feeds the in-cab components and accessories on stock EB AND aftermarket harnesses is mostly 10 gauge. Pretty sure that Centech and Painless both use 10 gauge wire to feed all the junk in the cab, so a couple of 10ga aux grounds would be appropriate. Where appropriate.

But braided straps are cheap and already come pre-terminated with ring terminals crimped and soldered in place. Easy peasy, nice looking and reliable as stones.
Worth a look at least Audog

Paul

 

[Audog]

Thanks guys.... I have looked at o riellys and advanced auto but have had no luck with the smaller braided straps. Will keep looking.

 

[Viperwolf1]

I love 1/0 too. Great stuff.
But he was asking just about the auxiliary grounding stuff. Engine to body, battery to body, stuff like that. Sounds like he's already using a standard ground cable from the battery to the engine.

For that, I'm in agreement with the others. The 10 would be ok for most things, but Viper stated a good reason the factories use exposed braided straps whenever feasible. Long term reliability.

When it comes right down to it though, 10 would be fine with your stock, or near stock loads, since that's what's commonly used in the factory EB and the aftermarket stuff too.
Just look at some replacement battery ground cables and you can find 10 gauge pigtails for the body connection quite common.
And the wire that feeds the in-cab components and accessories on stock EB AND aftermarket harnesses is mostly 10 gauge. Pretty sure that Centech and Painless both use 10 gauge wire to feed all the junk in the cab, so a couple of 10ga aux grounds would be appropriate. Where appropriate.

But braided straps are cheap and already come pre-terminated with ring terminals crimped and soldered in place. Easy peasy, nice looking and reliable as stones.
Worth a look at least Audog

Paul

That's exactly what I said but they wouldn't listen to me.

 

[Bronk]

I usally go to the local car wrecker and rob Body grounds (braided for sure) there is usally one connecting the hood to body (and that's even bigger than a 10ga)

10 gauge would be acceptable as a hood ground strap

 

[Viperwolf1]

How much current do you have going through your hood? The only reason you would have even a few milliamps is if you added a light and grounded it there.

 

[Bronchole]

The body straps are not really meant for running power thru. They are primarily there for RFI (ignition noise) and simmilar purposes like keeping the crank from arcing to the bearings. They can be used for power in addition to that though. For instance a ground strap to the hood could provide the ground path for a hood light if the hood is not being grounded sufeciently by the hinges.

When grounding for RFI purposes (also referred to as bonding) it is most effective to use braided wire as apposed to stranded wire. This has to do with how RF signals travel on the skins of the individule condictors that make up the wire.

Or at least that is what I have been told over the last couple decades

Dan

 

[DirtDonk]

Righty-o. I don't have a light on my hood, but it's got a ground strap anyway, as well as a couple between the body and the frame, due to me trying everything I could to lower the AM radio noise.

Unfortunately on old Broncos, some of those bonding straps (thanks! I can never remember "bonding") end up acting as temporary ground wires when the main cable comes loose in the middle of a week-long wheeling trip in Moab!
Until they melt too that is...

Paul