Grounding Wire Extension (Suzuki)

[jeffcampagna]

Hey Everyone,

So, I moved the battery location in my 2012 Suzuki GN125 by a few inches. Now my battery negative lead which grounds to my engine is not quite long enough. I need to buy a new ground wire to run now.

Do I have to find the EXACT gauge (no way to tell what the gauge is exactly, anyone know the standards?) or can I just make sure it's the same OR slightly thicker gauge?

Or should I just relocate the grounding point from the engine bolt to a solid metal frame support under the seat that's closer?

Any help or advice here would be greatly appreciated.

Damn electrical....

 

[hillsy]

Most bikes will benefit from having a ground directly from the battery to the frame as well as the engine.


Make up / get another lead like you have there. Bolt both of them to the frame somewhere then the 1st lead to the battery, 2nd lead to the motor.

 

[jeffcampagna]

Hey Hillsy,

Thanks for the info. So a double ground, eh?

And do the gauges of the ground wires have to be exact as stock? or is there a little wiggle room?

 

[Sonreir]

There's usually a little wiggle room, but unless you know what you're doing, go with thicker or the same size.

 

[jeffcampagna]

Great. Thanks Sonreir!

Does the length of the run of the gounding wire matter at all?

 

[Sonreir]

Technically, yes. Practically, no.

Longer wiring runs have more resistance, so a longer wire will hot be able to carry as much current. An eight gauge wire should have a resistance of about .0006 Ohms per foot, so I wouldn't worry about it too much.

 

[jeffcampagna]

Great. Thanks so much for the info Sonreir! Makes sense.

Do you happen to know what some standard grounding wire gauges are for small CC bikes? (it drives me crazy when they don't indicate the gauge on the wire jacket and I don't have a meter to investigate)

Again, thanks for the help.

 

[Sonreir]

Great. Thanks so much for the info Sonreir! Makes sense.

Do you happen to know what some standard grounding wire gauges are for small CC bikes? (it drives me crazy when they don't indicate the gauge on the wire jacket and I don't have a meter to investigate)

Again, thanks for the help.

I use 10 gauge for smaller bikes at anything under 100CCA. Eight gauge for more than that. Usually the cut off is around the 500cc mark, but some are more and some are less. Fewer cylinders usually requires more power and larger wires.

If you're going kick only, 12 and sometimes even 14 will be just fine.

 

[jeffcampagna]

Thanks Sonreir!

It's 125CC with electric start. Think I'll stick with 8 gauge based on what you said. Headed to the store this week to find some.

Copper is the way to go I'm sure. But should I try to find braided copper?

 

[Sonreir]

Depends on when you plan on mounting your connections. Braided wire generally has a bit more flex and stretch to it, so it's useful if you're covering only a short distance or dealing with a scenario where movement is expected (some guys mount batteries on their swing arms, for instance). Over a longer distance or if everything is expected to stay in place, stranded copper is fine.