Good Ground Connection on Chevy/GMC Chassis

[cortttt]

I asked Morningstar where to ground a PWM Tristar Charge Controller on a GMC/Chevy van.

He responded

"You would use the vehicle chassis in place of the Earth Ground.  There may already be a common area on the chassis where the electrical grounding is connected, ideally you woul dwant to locate this and use this same spot."

Does anyone know if there is a common grounding area on the van chassis?

It's a 2010 van..

 

[SternWake]

Follow the big black cable from starting battery (-) to where it bolts to the engine. That would be the ideal spot. Next would be where a slightly thinner cable from battery(-) goes to firewall.

These locations would reduce the possibility of a ground loop, which sometimes can be heard in a stereo when one is charging the battery of their MP3 and charge controllers can be very electrically noisy.

 

[cortttt]

Follow the big black cable from starting battery (-) to where it bolts to the engine.  That would be the ideal spot.  Next would be where a slightly thinner cable from battery(-) goes to firewall.

These locations would reduce the possibility of a ground loop, which sometimes can be heard in a stereo when one is charging the battery of their MP3 and charge controllers can be very electrically noisy.

Thanks. Does length of the ground wire matter? I was going to put my battery in the back of the van but maybe I should put it closer to the front?

Am I right in that the controller should be fairly close to the battery?

 

[ccbreder]

I think you can make ground on any metal of the van chassis. Close to the battery is good. Your house battery can be grounded to the same point as the charge controller. I do run double wires to all my 12 volt devices. Then I am sure of the return path to the battery. But the house battery is also grounded to my van, as well as the safety grounds on the chargers and inverter. Be sure to use fuses to protect all the wires.

 

[cortttt]

I think you can make ground on any metal of the van chassis. Close to the battery is good. Your house battery can be grounded to the same point as the charge controller. I  do run double wires to all my 12 volt devices. Then I am sure of the return path to the battery. But the house battery is also grounded to my van, as well as the safety grounds on the chargers and inverter. Be sure to use fuses to protect all the wires.

Thanks