Grounding my Electrical Components.

[JGibson]

Navigation Lights
Bilge x2
Aerator
Livewell Inlet
Deck Lights.

6 Gang Switch Panel

I'm in the process of running wire for these and I don't have a way of grounding it without running all the grounds to the battery. I'm just worried that this may overload the battery. Is that possible with ground wires? I plan to get a Bus Bar later...

 

[JMichael]

No, those items you listed are not nearly enough to overload a battery as far as amount of power drawn. If you intend to run a separate ground wire for each item it will certainly get crowded/cluttered though. A centrally located ground buss bar is the right way to go. It will save you some wire and make things a lot neater. Just be sure that the wire you use from the battery to the buss bar is large enough to handle the total amp draw of all the items combined that are running from the buss.

 

[JGibson]

Will do. Just need to know if I could run them to the battery until I get a bar.

 

[JMichael]

Will do. Just need to know if I could run them to the battery until I get a bar.

Yep the only difference in doing it that way vs buss bar is appearances and use of wire. It won't make a bit of difference to the battery which way you do it. :lol:

 

[JGibson]

So, after looking around for a busbar cheap, I figured I could make one cheaper than I could buy one...may give this a try, hopefully all it will do is fail and I will just run my grounds straight to the battery

 

[lovedr79]

i have one pos and one ground running to my switch panel from the battery.

 

[JGibson]

Thats the way I thought this switch panel would be wired up but it's not. There are 3 fused wires coming off of it and they are run parallel to each switch. The switch themselves have only two prongs, 1 for the pos and one to run the components to, so a ground is needed somewhere. I figure I have enough "stuff" laying around here that I can throw a grounding block together, at least I hope so

 

[MrSimon]

You can get a decent quality bus bar for less than $10. Its the way to go.