Modernizing charging system but what grounds? (2012)

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gtsun

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I'm changing over to a Sparx alternator & Reg/Rec so I pulled ALL the wires to my Zenor, rectifyer and the assimulator. I capped of everything including all the ground wires but just thought I'de ask a dumb question.. Would there have been any reason to have left the old ground wires from any or all of the replaced parts? Feel free to be insultive if it makes you feel good. I'de rather be called stupid & learn then the other way round. Besides, I'm a firm believer that people who are offended easily need to be offended more often! Please do tell.
 
The grounds could help to provide a more solid path if you fix them to the frame. But if the harness is in decent shape, it isn't necessary. I doubt you would notice any difference.
 
You need 3 of 4 dedicated grounds. 1 from the positive terminal to the frame near that terminal. 1 to the timing chest, 1 to the head from the coil box and 1 to the headlamp shell. Some even run 1 to the tail light area.
 
Wiring and hunting faults offends me no end so altering the loom is not at all offensive to me. A number of the red earth leads have 2 earth attachments in more than one location, so if can't see the whole red run, must test that its really disconnected from battery path/frame, if that is your goal, but except for extra red wire clutter, don't have to de-earth wires once component they earthed is gone or disconnected.
 
Pivisseriii you said (3) then listed (5). I don't remember any ground wire off a timing chest bolt, I do have the Headsteady one allthough my bike came with a Mikuni and the ground wire is on a carb mounting bolt to the manifold. System seemed ok I just was wondering if I should leave any of the old grounds from the Assimulator as example. I don't know if there is one from the battery to the frame near it but will look. Is that standard in the stock loom & where does it connect to the frame???
 
gtsun said:
I'm changing over to a Sparx alternator & Reg/Rec so I pulled ALL the wires to my Zenor, rectifyer and the assimulator. I capped of everything including all the ground wires but just thought I'de ask a dumb question.. Would there have been any reason to have left the old ground wires from any or all of the replaced parts? Feel free to be insultive if it makes you feel good. I'de rather be called stupid & learn then the other way round. Besides, I'm a firm believer that people who are offended easily need to be offended more often! Please do tell.
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I doubt you'll find this offensive, but if an electrical component has no juice to it, no ground is needed. Not that a connected ground will harm anything. No need to cap disconnected ground wires. In fact, you can nip them if you want. Of course, that means no return to original components.
 
Thanks Jimc. That's actualy all I wanted to know, makes scence to me now but sometimes I'm mystifide by this Voo Doo science called electricity. I wish I knew more about how the whole thing works.
 
gtsun:

Don't let electricity confuse you - just remember that any device needs 2 conducting paths, on the Norton the frame (ground) is used as one of them. Think of the current going from the + terminal on the battery, out through a control (switch), along the circuit and load (lights or ignition) and back to the - terminal on the battery. The arrow direction on the diode shows the direction the current is flowing, That's all there is to it - good luck!!
 
most if not all modern electronic regulators are independent of which earth polarity the bike has. Just make sure they are connected into the loom in the appropriate way for which earth you have!
 
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