I need some electrical Theory help
Moderators: daewoomofo, Moderators Group
I need some electrical Theory help
So When wiring off a car battery why dont you have to run a wire back to the neg side of the battery? Also one of my teachers said that having one positive wire running to a switch, then grounding the switch with one wire into the chassis would not complete the circuit, but I have done this several times? Any ideas? I want to prove him wrong. help Erfinder!!!
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KnightWalace
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TheGreatAndPowerfulOz
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*prepares to pounce*
LOL
Ok ... here it goes.
The battery, as you know, has a positive and a negative connecter post.
Also, as you know, the car's body/frame is made of metal.
Again, you also know that the netative connection of the battery is connected to the car's body/frame.
So, with this in mind, the car's body and all metal in it, floor, bodywork, support frames, etc. are all the negative part of the circuit, directly connected to the negative of the battery and thus acts as the wire going back to the battery's negative connection.
That is why you bolt the ground wire of lights, amplifiers, etc. directly to the bodywork or framework under the dash; it IS the negative connection of the circuit and that is why you only need to run a power wire from the positive side of the battery to what ever it is that you are wanting to use.
That is also why it is *SO* (I can not stress this enough) very important to upgrade the ground wire from the battery negative post to the body and from the body to the engine block with heavy guage wire that is cleanly soldered (or very well crimped of you can not solder) and bolted tightly to a location on the body that is free of rust, paint, dirt and oil. This makes sure that anything that requires electricity will have the lowest resistance and will work at it's peak performance.
(Here I go ranting again - LOL) This is why upgrading the main power and ground cables under the hood is such a necessity to get a hotter, stronger spark, faster working power windows, little or no headlight dimming from a large stereo system, and brighter headlights.
All the electrical items work so much better because there is less resistance for the complete circuit to work better in all aspects.
*IF* you were to run a positive wire to one pole of a switch, and gound the other pole of the switch to the body/chasis, the wire would heat up and either burn out and melt or the switch would burn out inside.
Now, if the switch has a small light inside it, such as an LED, and has 3 posts to connect; such as power source, ground and load, then the only purpose of the ground connected to that switch is to make the switch itself light up.
If you need more help, just ask for more clarification and I, or anyone else who can, will help.
Cliff
LOL
Ok ... here it goes.
The battery, as you know, has a positive and a negative connecter post.
Also, as you know, the car's body/frame is made of metal.
Again, you also know that the netative connection of the battery is connected to the car's body/frame.
So, with this in mind, the car's body and all metal in it, floor, bodywork, support frames, etc. are all the negative part of the circuit, directly connected to the negative of the battery and thus acts as the wire going back to the battery's negative connection.
That is why you bolt the ground wire of lights, amplifiers, etc. directly to the bodywork or framework under the dash; it IS the negative connection of the circuit and that is why you only need to run a power wire from the positive side of the battery to what ever it is that you are wanting to use.
That is also why it is *SO* (I can not stress this enough) very important to upgrade the ground wire from the battery negative post to the body and from the body to the engine block with heavy guage wire that is cleanly soldered (or very well crimped of you can not solder) and bolted tightly to a location on the body that is free of rust, paint, dirt and oil. This makes sure that anything that requires electricity will have the lowest resistance and will work at it's peak performance.
(Here I go ranting again - LOL) This is why upgrading the main power and ground cables under the hood is such a necessity to get a hotter, stronger spark, faster working power windows, little or no headlight dimming from a large stereo system, and brighter headlights.
All the electrical items work so much better because there is less resistance for the complete circuit to work better in all aspects.
You may have different ideas and are explaining to each other at cross purposes.Also one of my teachers said that having one positive wire running to a switch, then grounding the switch with one wire into the chassis would not complete the circuit, but I have done this several times? Any ideas? I want to prove him wrong.
*IF* you were to run a positive wire to one pole of a switch, and gound the other pole of the switch to the body/chasis, the wire would heat up and either burn out and melt or the switch would burn out inside.
Now, if the switch has a small light inside it, such as an LED, and has 3 posts to connect; such as power source, ground and load, then the only purpose of the ground connected to that switch is to make the switch itself light up.
If you need more help, just ask for more clarification and I, or anyone else who can, will help.
Cliff
Well you pretty much nailed it. He was saying that if I didnt run at least 2 cables to the battery I would not complete the circuit. He said the electrons would not be able to flow back by just grounding in to the chassis. He said if I hooked up a LED to the positive side of a battery and then put the negative to a metal ground on the body it wouldnt work. I know it works because I have hooked up my amp and other accesories. I just needed the facts. Thanks Oz.
-Alex
-Alex
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PrecisionBoost
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What subject does this idiot teach? 
(after you pass the course)