flat ground straps

[peter lena 9,087]

an idea for grounding issues, https://www.amazon.com/JJHXSM-Braided-Connecting-Equipment-phy=9003310&hvtargid=pla-1436170297405&psc=1 , source for flexible hood grounding , or use the idea and make up your own . if your chassis is grounded to your  battery ground cable bolt , this is a simple addition  , to make your lighting brighter , clean connections / dielectric grease ,  just an idea , pete  

[Maxwell-8 4,366]

They came in extra on my horse, even though it wasn't installed on my raider.

[peter lena 9,087]

@Maxwell-8  since enhancing grounding on my 3 horses , my electrical issues have gone away.  its a chronic issue on horses, cracked / corroded / chafed wiring ." you have to get angry at it , fed up with constant problems ", eliminate old dried out shorted wiring . think ,I've been there  in most areas , rewire , isolate , wire wrap everything , use secure hangers , reroute problem areas , dielectric grease at every make up point , hard wire ground from battery ground bolt point , down to engine corner , clutch pedal area , 4 ga cable , electrical lug at engine corner , 10-12 ga from there to rectifier ,mount bolts , and from there to headlights / taillights. one solid well connected ground leader , from battery ground to lights , this also enhances the dash hook ups . tried it on one horse , very solid , duplicated it on the other 2 horses . consistently works , no issues, pete   

[Snoopy11 5,717]

This is a great thread, Pete. I use the ground straps that you have mentioned here, as well as welding ground cable... which I bought a long time ago, and have used on most everything! I put my own lugs on, so I know they are done right. 

 

 

Don

[peter lena 9,087]

@Snoopy11  wait a minute , does this mean we are on the same page ?  what's going on ,?  pete

[Snoopy11 5,717]

Well, in most cases, one of the first things I redo on a tractor is the ground, positive, and any other cables. 

 

I installed some of those ground straps on my truck as well after putting in the motor. 

 

Don

[RED-Z06 2,479]

Welp...time to order this and some self tappers

[kpinnc 13,728]

These are definitely a good fix for headlights that have flaky grounds through the hinge pins.

[Snoopy11 5,717]

One more plus to these straps, they can be put in hot locations without melting. 

 

Don

[Jeff-C175 7,203]

These look to be VERY thin metal on the lugs, and the crimp... well... that's not really what I call a crimp at all.

 

 

I'm down with the flat braid ground straps, very flexible, etc, but those... well... they are off my radar.  I think those lugs would break and come loose in like NEGATIVE time.  In other words, loose before you even bolt them down.

 

THIS is a crimp lug. 

 

 

But who owns a crimper that will handle those?  So instead, you squeeze with vice grips and then solder them.

 

If one wanted to purchase pre-made, they would be MUCH better off spending about twice the money and getting some of these:

 

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/falconer-electronics-inc/1-2-03-008/11609860

 

 

[Snoopy11 5,717]

2 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said:

These look to be VERY thin metal on the lugs, and the crimp... well... that's not really what I call a crimp at all.

 

 

I'm down with the flat braid ground straps, very flexible, etc, but those... well... they are off my radar.  I think those lugs would break and come loose in like NEGATIVE time.  In other words, loose before you even bolt them down.

 

THIS is a crimp lug. 

 

 

But who owns a crimper that will handle those?  So instead, you squeeze with vice grips and then solder them.

 

If one wanted to purchase pre-made, they would be MUCH better off spending about twice the money and getting some of these:

 

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/falconer-electronics-inc/1-2-03-008/11609860

 

 

Electrical engineer INCOMING!!!

 

I have squeezed my fair share of lugs with vice grips, my vice, c-clamps, etc... 

 

Don

[Snoopy11 5,717]

But, @Jeff-C175... maybe for simpler grounds like... frame to block... the one's from the jungle wouldn't be so bad? 

 

Thoughts?

 

Don

[RED-Z06 2,479]

35 minutes ago, Snoopy11 said:

But, @Jeff-C175... maybe for simpler grounds like... frame to block... the one's from the jungle wouldn't be so bad? 

 

Thoughts?

 

Don

I mean its not like we are pushing 300 amps thru them.  Hood to frame ground is more or less a rusty hinge.

[Jeff-C175 7,203]

How long do you guys think that gum wrapper twisted around that UNtinned copper is gonna give a good connection regardless of the current?

 

Seriously, those things are garbage, just look at them!

[Jeff-C175 7,203]

34 minutes ago, RED-Z06 said:

not like we are pushing 300 amps thru them

 

No, of course not, all you really need is a low resistance connection that would pass a couple amps at most.

 

That wire could be pulled right outta that lug.  It's garbage, even for one milliamp.

 

Would y'all just twist a couple wires together and wrap them with electrical tape and call it good?  Ya might as well if you think using garbage like that is a good idea.

Edited December 15, 2021 by Jeff-C175

[Snoopy11 5,717]

Well, I respect your thoughts, Jeff. I did not use those exact ground straps... mine are more like the ones you mentioned... and I think your point is 100% valid.

 

Do... you have any other ideas for grounds, @Jeff-C175? 

 

Don

[peter lena 9,087]

@Jeff-C175  THOSE BOLT ON ELECTRICAL LUGS , are a great bolt TOP washer , just unscrew the threaded link and add what ever you want . like going from a 4 gage cable to a  10- 12 wire . simple and bombproof . pete

[RED-Z06 2,479]

Im going to put one of these grounds between the negative terminal and negative cable on my truck and see if it will handle a 350sbc.  If it survives ill see how much weight it holds.

[Jeff-C175 7,203]

53 minutes ago, RED-Z06 said:

If it survives ill see how much weight it holds.

 

Try the pull test first.  I bet the lug comes right off with minimal effort, if the 'gum wrapper' lug doesn't tear in half first!  

[RED-Z06 2,479]

35 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

Try the pull test first.  I bet the lug comes right off with minimal effort, if the 'gum wrapper' lug doesn't tear in half first!  

How many pounds of dead weight should a ground strap hold🤣

 

 I mean if the ground straps are what holding your rig together structurally you have other problems to address

[Snoopy11 5,717]

28 minutes ago, RED-Z06 said:

How many pounds of dead weight should a ground strap hold🤣

 

 I mean if the ground straps are what holding your rig together structurally you have other problems to address

 I wouldn't have gone there, @RED-Z06... now Jeff will be sure to hang you by your g-strap...

 

I had to... 

 

 

Don

 

 

[Jeff-C175 7,203]

42 minutes ago, RED-Z06 said:

How many pounds of dead weight should a ground strap hold🤣

 

 I mean if the ground straps are what holding your rig together structurally you have other problems to address

 

That's not really the point.

 

The point is that if the photo on amazon is accurate, the so-called crimp of that aluminum foil gauge ring lug is totally unacceptable.  

 

A proper crimp connection has to provide mechanical strength and crimp tightly enough so as to exclude oxygen (specs and standards typically call this "gas tight") which would oxidize the metals which over time would increase the resistance of the wire / lug interface.

 

Folding thin metal over the wire and pressing flat does neither of those things.

Edited December 16, 2021 by Jeff-C175

[formariz 11,994]

On 12/15/2021 at 8:29 PM, Jeff-C175 said:

Folding thin metal over the wire and pressing flat does neither of those things.

I use flat ground straps but they are built a bit differently. The strap actually is inserted all the way to the end of lug then soldered and crimped. Looks like it was then drilled or punched . I think I can tow with these.

[peter lena 9,087]

@Jeff-C175  THOSE BOLT ON ELECTRICAL LUGS , are a great bolt TOP washer , just unscrew the threaded link and add what ever you want . like going from a 4 gage cable to a  10- 12 wire . simple and bombproof . pete

[wallfish 17,487]

On 12/14/2021 at 10:18 PM, Jeff-C175 said:

 

But who owns a crimper that will handle those?

If you have bolt cutters grind the tip of the jaws sharp edges to a ( )

Never gonna cut much with the tip any way but it works great for crimping those lugs.