Ground strap tried to eat me today

[Kerrath]

I'm working on an M50 swap and when I went to hook up the ground strap up to my strut mount, a shower of sparks flew forth. We took a test light and sure enough, it lit up. I can't think of a good reason why a ground strap should have +12v but if you can think of something, help me so I won't die tomorrow.

[Stevie30]

If any components or accessories are turned on (trunk/interior lights, OBC, radio etc.) you will read 12v between ground strap and ground. Turn off everything you can and connect ground strap. You will live to see tomorrow.

[lifeiskaos]

I WAS RIGHT! come over and fix it today lol

[Kerrath]

No, I was right, I said if anything was on, excess current would be completing the circuit. We turned off everything and it still had current. Except... I forgot we can't turn off OBC and stuff... will fix.

[Aptyp]

and i can't wait to see 12v burn marks on both of you.

[lordofthewaters]

My question is, why do you even have the battery connected before you have everything correctly plugged in and mounted down?

[lifeiskaos]

and i can't wait to see 12v burn marks on both of you.

thanks asshole

post something useful next time

[kronus]

My question is, why do you even have the battery connected before you have everything correctly plugged in and mounted down?

red'd for a very, very good question.

[lifeiskaos]

we tried with battery connected and disconnected. we've never electrocuted ourselves so we havent learned the lesson yet =D lol

[lifeiskaos]

My question is, why do you even have the battery connected before you have everything correctly plugged in and mounted down?

in all honesty, we were just trying to find the best power source for the engine harness, we just forgot about the ground strap.

lack of thinking + sparks + plus too late/dark to see = WTF

[evil_twin]

Hey where is the ground strap? Do you see both sides of it?

[lifeiskaos]

it used to be connected to the m20 mounting arm, but we were thinking about grounding it to the strut tower since the e28 mount is too big.. other side of it is connected to the fire wall on the passangers side of the car

[NOMAD]

Ever tried to take out an alternator without disconnecting the battery? Nothing has to be turned on for that to be exciting. Learned that when I was young.

[e30guydownunder]

And i guess we all now know why the Bentley tells you to disconnect the Earth lead of the battery before doing anything.

[lifeiskaos]

And i guess we all now know why the Bentley tells you to disconnect the Earth lead of the battery before doing anything.

word