I have an ally fuel tank.

The build manual says to rest the tank on some closed cell foam to insulate it fro mteh body. Some other people have earthed their tank.

Whats everyones thoughts on this?

If you are using a fuel gauge you will have to fit an earth to the sender unit at least

At some point the sender for the fuel gauge will need a return to earth, thissame lead effectively earths my tank as it is fitted to one of the sender securing screws.

HTH

Mark

mines sat on foam tape like yours but bolted to the chssis to provide the earth

Agree with Rusty. Fuel gauge is the only reason to earth, as it'll be insulated from the tank.

Tank itself doesn't need earthing (though it is anyway through petrol).

ATB

Simon

Insulate as in insulate from vibration not electrically insulated.


Petrol dosen't conduct in fact a nasty static charge can build up when storage tanks are getting filled so privision has to be made to earth bond the tanker to the tank.

what about the filler nozzle? you really dont want static discharging from there to the pump in the gas station! big boom

I have always understood that the tank "should" be earthed, as a precaution against the build up of static. I earthed mine, filler kneck to tank, tank to chassis. The reason, (I have been told), to do this is that static can build up in the filler, and when you fill up at your local station a spark "can" occur when you put the pump hose into your filler, making a big pyrotechnic display of your pride and joy, plus reducing your eyebrows, and other parts to cinders. Whether this is true or not, for a couple of bits of wire, I prefer not to find out, nor take the chance. You pay's your money, etc Ray

Damb! robertst beat me to it.

[Edited on 24-6-07 by Chippy]

Excuse my ignorance but how can any part of the car be 'earthed' when it sits on rubber tyres?

being "earthed" refers to the negative side of the battery being connected to the chassis. when something is earthed, its then said to be connected to the chassis - or to the negative side of the battery.

My tank is not earthed, - as far as i can tell!

How can i earth it without bolting anything to it as i dont want to drill it and bolt an earth terminal to it.

Can imy cable be bonded onto it with anything?

you might want to earth it so it is at the same potential (voltage) as the chassis, this will stop it sparking to the chassis. but as GaryM said, you could still have a massive potential relative to the actual earth (think of the shock you get getting out of your tin top)
<thinking mode ON> you don't tend to slide your bum getting out of a locost, less friction, less charging. also you tend to hold onto something as you get out, roll bar etc so you don't build up such a difference (getting out of a tin top you may hold onto the interior plastic door handle)

In any case the ACTUAL risk of a spark igniting the fumes from the filler neck or small, thrers a myth busting website (can't remember which one ) that tried to ignite a pool of petrol with a lit fag end and failed.

Yes, they do earth F1 cars in the pits and they do put earthing straps on tankers before they flow petrol presumably to remove the small risk that is present.

you can always just cross your fingers!

chas

I suppose i cold always jubilee clip an earth cable drom the filler neck to the tank neck and then take the cable from the tank neck to thc chassis?

That is exactly how mine is done. Ray

Fair enough then