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Earth Circuit On The Lightweight


peter_m7uk

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Hi All,

 

Not a lot of activity here for a while! I just wanted to ask what you'd all done for earthing the Lightweight chassis?

Using a multimeter, I can do a continuity check on panels and box sections all over the chassis and they all seem to be electrically connected. I have, however, used a sealant between all panels to add strength and watertightness. So, the panels should be insulated from one another apart from through the various bolts and rivets. Anyone think this is sufficient basis for making the chassis one big earthing point, or did those with fully functioning electrics decide that extra earthing straps were needed between panels??

 

Cheers,

Pete :D

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Hi Peter

 

Even one or two rivets are enough to carry a few hundred amps of power so you shouldn't need to add

any straps. If you do find a panel that is isolated I would be more concerned with it being structurally

attached as the rivets or metal to metal contact is more than enough to ensure continuity. You would

also do more good using a few extra rivets in a panel than adding a strap. The rivets would at least aid

in clamping things together a bit tighter while the strap is just useless dead weight structurally.

 

Dave

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Hi Peter

 

Even one or two rivets are enough to carry a few hundred amps of power so you shouldn't need to add

any straps. If you do find a panel that is isolated I would be more concerned with it being structurally

attached as the rivets or metal to metal contact is more than enough to ensure continuity. You would

also do more good using a few extra rivets in a panel than adding a strap. The rivets would at least aid

in clamping things together a bit tighter while the strap is just useless dead weight structurally.

 

Dave

 

Hiya Dave,

 

Thanks for the reply. Sounds good to me and removes a job from the list :good:

 

How is your build going, by the way? Have you made the chassis mods based on your analysis?

I would be interested to see any pics you've got :D I'm wiring at the moment (as you may have

guessed), then hope to fire up the Pinto sometime soon!! The clocks go back this weekend in Britain,

so it's time for yet another long slog through the winter months. I reckon 2010 could be The Year, though,

there's not *that* much left for me to do.....

 

Cheers,

Pete B)

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hi pete

re the earth its not a prob it will work as said even 1 rivett will conduct the required voltage to earth .

the ones i have built use the chassis as an earth with no probs .

 

graham

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Hi Peter

 

About the only place you might ever need a strap might be where something gets

mounted using a rubber mount or bushing. If you used the front A-arms as grounds

they might need one but its easy to check with a meter. About the only place I have

actually ever seen a ground strap is on the engine. Rubber engine and tranny mounts

can isolate it from the chassis.

 

Well I'm on V3 now. I started off with a stock frame (v1) then a stock frame with fixes

(v2) and then a from scratch (v3) just to see what could be done. The stock one has a few

known problems but what I could see there probably will be a couple more with front suspension

mounts and the engine mount plate on the edges. V2 was the basic frame with fixes which were

nothing more than plates or washer to reduce the fastener or point loads to a safe level. The

third version was basically a low level "airframe" using 025 sheet and a roll bar and rear section

unit that ties into the front alum tub. It should cure any load problems as well as having sort of a

roll cage from the floor up. I set it up for an IRS so the arms pumpkin, seat belts, and roll bar are one

structure. The alum boot is just a cover and should come off so the fuel tank and diff etc are all

exposed. That's the theory anyway.

 

Not sure what I'm going to end up doing. My buddy with "my" kit has sort of disappeared on me.

 

Dave

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