Added New Dash Ground to 93 with Pics

Do you still have the pictures available? For some reason they don't show up for me. Thx!

With Memorial Day coming up on me sooner than I originally thought, I am going to have to forgo the bus bar for the near future.

@desertskier, how did you splice into the main power feeding the ignition breaker? Adding a ground is simple because I can do that with a ring terminal, but the power wire is a quick disconnect. I could splice into it with a butt splice, but don't really like that idea too much.

gcam4 wrote: I do plan on installing a new receiver that has a class D amp in in it which calls for larger than normal power.

You probably don't want to power this from your ignition circuit. If it draws a lot of current it should have a dedicated feed with it's own fuse. Not through the ignition breaker and accessory switches. Typically any stereo equipment other than a head unit is powered directly from the battery with in-line fuses and dedicated grounds.

If you are leaving the existing wires between the engine and the dash then you don't need to go that big. The new wires will be in parallel with the originals. 10 gauge is more than sufficient even if you disconnect the originals.

I'm resurrecting an old thread. I installed PP last year and now have low voltage at the dash. So, my thinking is new power and ground wire to the engine and then get rid of the daisy chains and install two buss bars at the dash. I will be using marine grade wire sized up 1 or 2 gauges for the mains, 6 or 8 gauge, along with adhesive lined heat shrink connections. I believe that is the best option?

Maybe I'll pick up some individuals of the sure-connect. I have to do a new bilge pump soon, so that would be the perfect application for those. I wasn't totally sure what gauge I'd be working with on that, but it looks like it's most likely 14 or 16, which would be the blue.

I had been buying my terminal ends sort of piece meal.

But, just to have them on hand, I just bought this box set, from McMaster, this item number:
70335K81

Is that what you guys are referencing? It's the fully insulated variety.

Yep, I have tinned marine wire in 8, 10, and 14 gauge so that I'm fully prepared. I was going to run an 8 gauge + from the main breaker to the ignition breaker, but finding an actual 8 gauge female quick disconnect is challenging. It looks like the 10-12 gauge female disconnect might work with the 8 gauge wire, but if it don't I'm just going to run the 10 gauge +.   I'm purchasing the shrink connectors from McMaster since they have a nice selection. My bus bars have 1/4" main terminals and the rest are #8, s0 I'm going to run with those two sizes. In my mind I was thinking that the terminal on that 50 amp breaker was larger than 1/4", so that's why I posed the question. I also do not recall the thread size of the engine ground bolt. McMaster does have 8 gauge 5/16" and 3/8" heat shrink rings, so maybe since I'm slightly unprepared I better spend an extra $10 for a larger size to be safe. Thanks for your recommendations and for confirming the quick connect size!

Adam,
Get a box on #12 and 1/4" Stacons to match the wire size you are using. You should be good. I hope you are using marine grade wire and heat shrink adhesive lined Stacons. Yes, the quick connects are .250".

I agree. I saw an improvement by adding just the ground, but didn't get the full benefit until I added a positive feed as well.

Great. I will see if the multimeter has a reading by connecting the negative to this and the positive to the battery

Here is a picture of what I was asking about - is this a ground bus that I could connect my new ground wire to for a better dash ground?

Thank you, I have already put the boat back; I will try to get some.

Basically it is a black plastic bus that has black wires running into it.
The wires are black, and all of my breaker wires are red on both sides.

David

Hi everyone

I am trying to do this on a 1988 Nautique 2001 without perfect pass.
Can anyone help me find the dash ground so I can connect the new ground wire from the engine block to the dash ground?


I have a bus bank that appears to connect to the breaker l.ights


David

Sta-kon is T&B's (Thomas & Betts) trade name. I did a search!