ENGINE AR 1312992 - Caterpillar

Grounding Practices
Illustration 1 g01162916
Typical example
(1) Starting motor to engine block
(2) Ground to starting motor
(3) Ground to battery
Illustration 2 g01162918
Typical example
(4) Ground to engine
(5) Ground to battery Correct grounding for the engine electrical system is necessary for optimum engine performance and reliability. Incorrect grounding will result in uncontrolled electrical circuit paths and in unreliable electrical circuit paths.Uncontrolled electrical circuit paths can result in damage to the crankshaft bearing journal surfaces and to aluminum components.Engines that are installed without engine-to-frame ground straps can be damaged by electrical discharge.To ensure that the engine and the engine electrical systems function correctly, an engine-to-frame ground strap with a direct path to the battery must be used. This path may be provided by way of a direct engine ground to the frame.The connections for the grounds should be tight and free of corrosion. The engine alternator must be grounded to the negative "-" battery terminal with a wire that is adequate to handle the full charging current of the alternator.The power supply connections and the ground connections for the engine electronics should always be from the isolator to the battery.