12V wiring Aluminum Cargo Trailer conversion
Been searching for days and haven't found a clear answer on whether or not a 12V system should be grounded to the chassis of a 100% aluminum framed enclosed trailer. Am I better running negative wires...
Forum Discussion
Yes, the 120v and 12v share the same RV frame for ground (120)/neg (12). Typical RV power centre has the 120v incoming to the 30a Main breaker with the bare ground wire going to the RV frame. Meanwhile the converter in that power centre uses the same RV frame for much of its several neg paths to the various 12v items such as slide motor, jacks, etc. The metal skin of RVs that have that is the negative path for the clearance lights too.
The metal casing of the power centre is grounded to the frame as is the "lower portion" 's metal casing (chassis) so that is the "chassis ground" for the converter. If you have a deck mount converter it will have its own chassis ground from a lug on its metal casing. Same with a bigger inverter.
Warning--do not bring the chassis ground of an inverter back around to its own neg input terminal. That does get to the frame via the battery's neg ground to frame, but you are supposed to run the inverter chassis ground direct to the frame.
Those inverter chassis grounds are to reduce radio interference.
The metal casing of the power centre is grounded to the frame as is the "lower portion" 's metal casing (chassis) so that is the "chassis ground" for the converter. If you have a deck mount converter it will have its own chassis ground from a lug on its metal casing. Same with a bigger inverter.
Warning--do not bring the chassis ground of an inverter back around to its own neg input terminal. That does get to the frame via the battery's neg ground to frame, but you are supposed to run the inverter chassis ground direct to the frame.
Those inverter chassis grounds are to reduce radio interference.
