[C320-list] Ground Bus Bar - Perkins M30 Alternator

[Mark Cole]

Jeff;

When I redid the batteries and related wiring on Fiddler’s Green, (1993 with Perkins M30) I installed separate bus bars for both positive and negative cables.  I left the alternator grounded at the bolt on the engine so I didn’t mess up the wiring harness, but ran a cable from that ground bolt to a bus bar in the battery compartment and attached all other negative cables from the batteries and my charger.  Here is a link <https://c320.org/mediagallery/album.php?aid=342&sort=0&page=1> to some photos in my album on the C320 website.

I’ve since added a Balmar SG200 battery monitor and windlass to the bus bars, so they are getting pretty well populated and everything is working great.

Mark Cole
Fiddler’s Green, #8

> On Jul 1, 2020, at 12:00 PM, Jack Brennan <jackbrennan at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> 
> Hi Jeff:
> 
> It sounds like a neat, orderly way to do it. A buss bar is a much better way to organize the wires. 
> 
> I would also connect the buss bar to the one behind your circuit breaker panel. I would need to dig back into my electrical books for a good explanation, but I believe having all grounds on the boat connected is strongly recommended. 
> 
> Jack Brennan
> Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
> Tierra Verde, Fl.
> Dolphin Cruising Club of Tampa Bay
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
> 
> From: Jeff Smith
> Sent: Wednesday, July 1, 2020 2:19 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: [C320-list] Ground Bus Bar - Perkins M30 Alternator
> 
> To all with a Perkins,
> 
> Has anyone installed a ground bus bar for the M30 alternator? The common ground for the Perkins M30 is a bolt at the back of the engine. When I removed the bolt to ground my electric lift pump, I inadvertently severed three ground wires that were also attached to that point (alternator and something else I have not traced). My thought is to install a ground bus bar with one wire from the back of the engine and mount the bus bar somewhere close. Then I can simply connect my grounds on the bar.
> 
> Amazon sells a Blue Sea Systems Common BusBar (rated up to 250A, though I am looking at the 150A version), with 10 screws and a cover. I am curious if anyone has done something similar. I think I have at least five different wires grounded to the back of the engine.
> 
> Thanks,
> Jeff
> ’94, #121
> 
> 
>