Fuel Tank Grounded with Electrical Level Sender

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Author Topic:   Fuel Tank Grounded with Electrical Level Sender

fizzboater posted 01-23-2006 12:03 AM ET (US)
I am installing an electrical sender unit in a stainless-steel fuel tank. This unit is mounted thru an 1.5" hole in the top of the tank. It requires a ground circuit back to battery negative of course (which is located right next to the tank - is that a good idea for battery placement?). My question is, is it ok to electrically ground the whole fuel tank as this will happen when I screw down the metal flange of the sender unit into the metal top.

jimh posted 01-23-2006 12:16 AM ET (US)
On older Boston Whaler boats, at least up until 1990, the fuel tank and all other metal components in the fuel system were bonded together with a green 10-AWG conductor. Included in this bonding system was a sintered bronze electrode mounted on the transom below the waterline.
Sometime after 1990 the design was changed and the separate grounding electrode on the transom was eliminated. It is assumed that the fuel tank system was thereafter bonded to the battery negative.
If an electrical sender is involved in the fuel tank level indicator, you will probably need to bond the fuel tank to the battery negative. I would do this with a 10-AWG conductor. I would not rely on a small cable from the electrical sender to act as a safety ground for the fuel tank.

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Author	Topic: Fuel Tank Grounded with Electrical Level Sender
fizzboater	posted 01-23-2006 12:03 AM ET (US) I am installing an electrical sender unit in a stainless-steel fuel tank. This unit is mounted thru an 1.5" hole in the top of the tank. It requires a ground circuit back to battery negative of course (which is located right next to the tank - is that a good idea for battery placement?). My question is, is it ok to electrically ground the whole fuel tank as this will happen when I screw down the metal flange of the sender unit into the metal top.
jimh	posted 01-23-2006 12:16 AM ET (US) On older Boston Whaler boats, at least up until 1990, the fuel tank and all other metal components in the fuel system were bonded together with a green 10-AWG conductor. Included in this bonding system was a sintered bronze electrode mounted on the transom below the waterline. Sometime after 1990 the design was changed and the separate grounding electrode on the transom was eliminated. It is assumed that the fuel tank system was thereafter bonded to the battery negative. If an electrical sender is involved in the fuel tank level indicator, you will probably need to bond the fuel tank to the battery negative. I would do this with a 10-AWG conductor. I would not rely on a small cable from the electrical sender to act as a safety ground for the fuel tank.