Grounding a Fuse Tap

[abarilla]

I'm trying to add a second power port (aka cigarette lighter) which turns off with the car. I got a fuse tap to use to do this which I'm going to use in the radio fuse slot. Where's a good place to ground it?

 

[belvedere]

If I'm reading this right, you're planning to connect a 12V point to ground. That would be a dead short. If I misunderstood you, I apologize.

 

[bugnout]

Just find a screw to attach the chassis ground wire to near where you are mounting the second outlet. Another option is to sand/grind down to the bare metal on an interior panel and put in a self tapping screw for a ground.

 

[abarilla]

Any suggestions on where to look somewhere under the dashboard?

This is an 05 CRD if it matters.

 

[Neal]

Using the radio power feed is probably not the best place to pull from. For the ground issue just find a screw nearby.

 

[rockymountain]

I'm trying to add a second power port (aka cigarette lighter) which turns off with the car. I got a fuse tap to use to do this which I'm going to use in the radio fuse slot. Where's a good place to ground it?

For such occasions I went to the hardware and got a small piece of power distribution block that normally goes into breaker panels in a house. I ran a ground wire to the batter and connected it to the block. I zip tied the block under the dash somewhere above about where your left knee would be. I call it my grounding block. whenever I need to add something new, I just ground it to that. I have 3 things grounded to it. Just make sure you don't exceed the limits of the ground wire from the block to the battery. Make sure it is beefy enough to handle the multiple grounded devices. So, now I have about six or so screw down grounding points at my disposal. I got tired of looking for grounds and getting crappy ones even when I did find a ground.

 

[JeepINgeek]

i havent been under the libbys dash much but..

on previous cars i usually get a good size cable and a huge EYE and use one of the steering column bolts ...

always got a good ground off of that.

 

[osufans]

there's already a factory ground point behind the left kick-panel, just under the dash. pull that and you'll see what I'm talking about. you just need an eye connector to bolt it to the post.

oh, and i wouldn't use your radio source for a tap either, especially not for a power outlet. you're probably best off running a fused accessory wire from the battery straight to your new outlet.