Chassis Ground - yes or no?

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Mr-Mike

Mr-Mike

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Contemplating a adding a chassis ground to my electric conversion running 14S. A 16 or 18 gauge hard wire (via connector) from battery pack negative to aluminum chassis. Thinking it's good to limit RF/EMI, but also good for shorts if not careful. Anyone do this? Probably should go without unless I observe a good reason to add it.

Electronics are: 14S batteries, CAP Pack (~21 000 µF), LMT motor, MGM ESC, BEC, Receiver, Gyro, Servos...

Your thoughts appreciated!
 
Not worth it in my opinion. If you did the battery you may as well do every electrical component in that circuit like the motor and esc too. Electricity will only take the easiest, shortest path possible and a nice fat battery negative will trump your grounds everytime.

Look at a full size electric car. Yes the 12v system is grounded to the chassis, but the 400v or 800v system that has the main motor and battery isn't. Could get a little sparky if it was and someone touched it!
 
Appreciate your comments Pablo, thanks for the replying. My understanding is that I only want one ground connection. Multiples create grounding loops and more noise. All components already return to battery negative via their own wiring. It would be easy enough to confirm by measuring resistance between any point on the grounded chassis to any device negative terminal. A couple of ohms or less will verify.

Despite that, I am leaning in favor of your opinion. The last thing I want to do is turn the entire chassis (it's all aluminum and alloys) into a negative terminal - as you pointed out clearly :) . If any positive touches it, it could get expensive.

I wanted to address the possibility of a large, 'floating' aluminum structure increasing RFI from all the switching and phase wiring. In reality, I have never had an issue with signal or PWM or what not, in the past. Even if my scenario is legit, doubtful it will interfere in any significant way. I keep thinking, neither Futaba, nor MGM instructions suggest grounding the chassis.

Again, I appreciate you chiming in and helping me think it through. I may shoot an email to MGM or Futaba, but I think I will go without. I can always add it if problems arise.

Take care partner!
 
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