Which is best

[honitonhobbit]

Winch earth back to battery or back to chassis

[GBMUD]

I think you know the answer to that one Dave.

Chris

[western]

back to battery I reckon, but there's no harm in running the earth to both points. my husky's motor is earthed to the bumper by it's body earth bolt & from the cable connection to the chassis/bumper bolts, hasn't caused me any problems.

[Les Brock]

Back to the battery everytime

[honitonhobbit]

Back to the battery everytime

Why though

I have fitted most winches to a fair few vehicles and have seen both types of earth suggested...

Why is back to battery best

Honest question

[LandyManLuke]

Back to the battery everytime, then you have a definite good earth path.

Using the chassis introduces far too many weak links, you rely on every connection being good, ie bumper to chassis, chassis to earth cable etc etc

I've just recently spent ages chasing earth faults on the in-laws caravan, the hassle is so easily removed by running decent earths for everything.

Luke

[honitonhobbit]

Back to the battery everytime, then you have a definite good earth path.

Using the chassis introduces far too many weak links, you rely on every connection being good, ie bumper to chassis, chassis to earth cable etc etc

I've just recently spent ages chasing earth faults on the in-laws caravan, the hassle is so easily removed by running decent earths for everything.

Luke

What if you have a good battery to chassis earth and a good winch to chassis earth?

[LandyManLuke]

Then you're slightly better off, but you still have at least two connections you could have avoided.

In reality, most chassis earths aren't particulary good, how many people have dirty old corroded earth straps on rusty bolts? most electrical connections to the chassis are going to be placed in such a position that they attract muck and rubbish, encouraging corrosion.

my thoughts, anyhoo

Luke

[honitonhobbit]

Thanks for that - I was fitting a winch today and the thought kept bouncing around the large empty space in my head...

[Mark90]

Any additional resistance in the earth return path cost you power, just like it does in the live side.

My 90 is well earthed with multi paths, but I still ran a direct earth back to the battery.

[Guest diesel_jim]

FWIW, my 8274 on the 90 is housed in a plastic coated BRB bar (like an ARB bar).

i had a crappy earth connection on the motor last month, and the winch stopped dead.... there was no earth at all via the mounting bolts/nudgebar/chassis etc, nothing at all, nada!

So, earth return works everytime!