Forum Discussion

RRTom's avatar
RRTom
Explorer
Nov 27, 2018

Battery charger - connect negative to chassis

I have read, and followed the advice, that when you hook up a charger to the engine battery, you should connect the negative cable to something connected to the chassis. However, with this motor home I have a very small access door to the engine compartment that my head won't fit through to let me see some possible connection points. Will it truly hurt anything to connect to the negative post on the battery?
2018 Coachmen Mirada.
Class A
  • YC_1's avatar
    YC_1
    Nomad
    Nov 28, 2018
    You are fine powering a charger after connecting it.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Nov 28, 2018
    First I do not recommend "Trickle Chargers" but rather "Battery Tender" class (There are a few different brands. LIke Battery Minder is the main other one).

    These are "Smart Chargers"

    Some of 'em come with a "Cable" you hook up to the batteries and there is a "Flat 2" (like a flat 4 trailer connector only 2 pins) and you plug the charger on there (it has a matching plug)


    But for a trickle charger/Battery minder.. I hook up to the battery.

    (usually though I hook up the car to the motor home when the car needs a charge. Yup. 12 volt charge line in place works great. Works in reverse too).

    (My "Battery Tender" is a 2-20-70 amp job when used for jump starting (70 amp) I would hook to engine/chassis/frame for the black lead. (Ground on my system)

    NOTE: I used to drive a POSITIVE GROUND car and have seen POSITIVE GROUND gear used in some services.. SO make no assumptions.

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