Just tidying up the wiring and wondered if it would be better to just earth all the components individually near to where they are rather than keeping the huge earth ''web'' that I currently have?

I think someone told me to change it to that but just wanted to make sure if not missed any potential pitfalls.

Cheers

Ez

I would thnk both have their advantages and disadvantages.
Many local chassis earths could inrease failure rate and look less tidy
Many wires to a single point heavier! and bulkier?

I would suggest having a few earth points as if (probably quite unlikely) the earth point corrodes or the bolt works loose, you have a few others to keep the car working

I suppose the thinking is that if an individual item fails, then the earth is right next to it to check, whereas with a big web the break in the wire could be anywhere? Plus if anything fails, it's only one item rather than half the car?

Just to be awkward - have both!

I have a number of remote earthing points - 1 at each front quarter for the lights on each side, plus anything electrical nearby (radiator fan, horns, etc) and another at the back of the car for the fuel pump and rear lights (usually a ring terminal under a lamp fixing screw.)

I have a BIG earthing point welded onto the chassis, where the battery negative and engine earth strap are clamped down. A few other local earths are also attached here where convenient.

Finally, the ignition system (Megajolt, EDIS, sensors, etc. ) all share a common earth as that reduces the chance of random signals interfering.

I do have a book Locost, which has the usual steel chassis with steel and aluminium panels, so finding a good and reliable earth is not usually a problem.

quote:

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Originally posted by David Jenkins
Just to be awkward - have both

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Use local earthing points, but never attach more than four to the same point.

Also, never attach an earth to magnesium.

I had a single earth point for my ignition systems and when it came loose cos I hadn't tightened the bolt the car stopped!

I have 3 earth points now!

I tended to earth around the fuse box a bit and make a local earth at the mounting points, lights, fuel pump etc, for example rear fog lights, lights and fuel pump all have individual earth points that are linked to each other.

ECU, LC 1 and all ignition/injection based items all run to the engine block and share a common earth for noise issues

Mines a standard westfeild loom and it all comes back down the tunnel as a single earth.
- Its a bit thicker than the others but it just daisy chains the two rear clusters and n.plate lights. Separate return for the fuel leval sender.

Rear clusters are pluged in to the loom with 7pin plugs, with any wires that on from the rhs to the lhs (earth/brake) crimped together in the car side of plug. lhs indicator just passes on unbroken.

This is what i would do myself also. Seems to work, only fault is the rear cluster plugs are in the wheel arch so at 17yo there a bit temperamental. I have some new waterproof ones to replace them with buy while they keep just about working and passing mot's its low enough on the list not to get done!


Daniel

In the kit i supply, we earth all the rear of the car at one point, and the front at 2-3 points. Lots of thinking has gone into this and i think this is a good compromise.

I would use seperate earths for any thing digital like ecu's and speedo's ect to avoid feedback.

The ideal is not to have multiple earths to the same destination, either connect everything via the chassis or run seperate wires but do not join again.

If you do this the cables have different properties and you find that the common points are subject to corrosion.

For myself I have a fat earth from battery to chassis and from battery to engine.

All lights, ECU etc all source the earth from the chassis.

Regards Mark