Question about Negative cable on Battery

[bigbencher]

Just curious where you guys have run your negative cable off your battery to?
Starter, frame....etc

[Barefoot Choppa]

Starter bolt...always. You may get different opinions here but I'm telling you, that is the "BEST" way. Ohms law says it is, I say it is and therefore.......it is If your only going to run one (I actually run 2), make sure its 4-6 ga. to the starter. I also run a 12 ga to the frame.

[kxmotox247]

I run one 10g wire to a starter bolt and run a 4g wire from the battery to a rear motor mount bolt. Make sure you clean the paint or powdercoat off the frame where the ground attaches to.

[Barefoot Choppa]

Originally Posted by kxmotox247

I run one 10g wire to a starter bolt and run a 4g wire from the battery to a rear motor mount bolt.

Why?......

[STEINBVG]

I respect the Ohm's law:the shorter and thicker the conductor- the less resistance.
I cut my cables in a marina store from 1-2 gage bulk to the precise lengths and clamp it right there with their tool and orienting the appropriate ends as they would be on the bike+shrink tube the insulation at the ends.
Surprisingly the cables are quite flexible.

Perhaps it's overkill.

Negative always goes to the closest starter bolt- rear bolt in my case.

[Barefoot Choppa]

Originally Posted by STEINBVG

I respect the Ohm's law:the shorter and thicker the conductor- the less resistance.
I cut my cables in a marina store from 1-2 gage bulk to the precise lengths and clamp it right there with their tool and orienting the appropriate ends as they would be on the bike+shrink tube the insulation at the ends.
Surprisingly the cables are quite flexible.

Perhaps it's overkill.

Negative always goes to the closest starter bolt- rear bolt in my case.

As far as ohm's law goes, it's not necessary to go any thicker then the overall amp draw. The only time that comes into the equation is when the length is excessive, then there would be a voltage drop. Not the case with bikes.

[rastoy]

I have always done battery to frame only. I figure if it's good enough for Harley Davidson Motor Company, it's good enough for me. Not trying to start a debate (Hell I have no clue about Ohm's law), just saying it's always worked for me.

[STEINBVG]

I guess. I was under impression that the amp draw wasn't a fixed number and reducing resistance in the starting system is actually helping to reduce the amp draw to minimum thus not to waist the available juice.
But as I said, in the big scheme of things my way might be overkill and the gauge 4 for short cables should be plenty.

[MAKO6]

Starter bolt, for all the reasons stated above.

Mak

[bigbencher]

Thanks for all the responses, I was just curious. I have a redneck curves and they run a 4g from battery to rear motor mount and thats it.

[Barefoot Choppa]

Originally Posted by STEINBVG

I guess. I was under impression that the amp draw wasn't a fixed number and reducing resistance in the starting system is actually helping to reduce the amp draw to minimum thus not to waist the available juice.
But as I said, in the big scheme of things my way might be overkill and the gauge 4 for short cables should be plenty.

The amp draw should be a fixed number, again ohms law as long as everything is a constant...ie; voltage, starter rating. And really, the starting circuit is the only one that really matters as in thats where most systems fail due to improper wiring practices. Not saying other circuits aren't important, they are and need to be sized right as well. For all practical purposes, the way HD does it, is an acceptable way. Wiring direct to the source of the highest amp draw is a better way.

[Knuckle Dragger]

Starter Bolt.

[TimNY]

Starter bolt always.
If you bench test a starter you must ground it.
So it makes sense to me to wire it that way too.

[RedWings]

starter bolt and frame just to be sure.

[Am4wag]

Frame and starter here too...