What is this braided strap? (2 Viewers)

[GoldenVision]

Fiat Ducato 2023 - passenger seat vehicle battery compartment. Top of the picture.

It's a push-fit. Is it the earth strap? I wouldn't have thought a push-fit would suffice?

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Maybe an additional earth strap. But it doesn't look as if it's connected.

 

[pappajohn]

Main earth strap.
Once in place it WILL be a tight fit.
Puzzle is.... As its not connected there appears to be no earth from the battery.

 

[enark]

Think there is a separate conversation about these, and how the failing earth causes all sorts of issues, so best to fit a second strap?

 

[Lenny HB]

It's a chassis earth direct to the battery and it's quite a lose fit when it's on you can rotate it easily.
The main negative connections go back to the shunt (black box connected to earth terminal) .

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[GoldenVision]

Thanks for the info.

I had disconnected it just for the photo, but was concerned that it could easily rotate when firmly connected, but it seems that that's ok.

I asked the question because the B2B isn't charging, and the first port of call always seems to be to check the earth connection.

So it must be something else.

 

[Ian_H]

Hi David
I think you had B2B problems earlier in the year, what was it and did Phil sort it out for you?

 

[LostInSpace]

I am confused, as there seems to be another battery terminal near to it with a big red wire attached to it.

Red is normally positive (+12v)

Another picture including the other end of the battery (and from a different angle) might help.

I agree braided strap is almost universally an earth strap and it appear to be bolted to the chasis.

 

[GoldenVision]

Hi David
I think you had B2B problems earlier in the year, what was it and did Phil sort it out for you?

Ongoing! The B2B unit he installed eventually failed (after Fiat had identified a problem with the earth strap) and he has recently replaced it with a Victron 50amp unit. But it ain't working, and I'm suspecting either the smart alternator or the vehicle battery - but first I thought I'd check the earth, as it seems to be a common Ducato problem.

 

[LostInSpace]

Earth faults on a Fiat can certainly be a problem (from first hand experience).

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[Razamataz]

Think there is a separate conversation about these, and how the failing earth causes all sorts of issues, so best to fit a second strap?

 

[Ian_H]

Ongoing! The B2B unit he installed eventually failed (after Fiat had identified a problem with the earth strap) and he has recently replaced it with a Victron 50amp unit. But it ain't working, and I'm suspecting either the smart alternator or the vehicle battery - but first I thought I'd check the earth, as it seems to be a common Ducato problem.

Shouldn't Phil be sorting it out if he installed it?

 

[funflair]

I am confused, as there seems to be another battery terminal near to it with a big red wire attached to it.

Red is normally positive (+12v)

Another picture including the other end of the battery (and from a different angle) might help.

I agree braided strap is almost universally an earth strap and it appear to be bolted to the chasis.

My take is that then red one is the +ve and is trailing over the -ve but I would want to move it so it can't rub through on the -ve terminal as that would not be good.

 

[bigtwin]

My take is that then red one is the +ve and is trailing over the -ve but I would want to move it so it can't rub through on the -ve terminal as that would not be good.

I agree, that’s a disaster waiting to happen. If it’s not possible to move the positive leads, a shroud placed over the negative post would be a big improvement.

Ian

 

[GoldenVision]

Shouldn't Phil be sorting it out if he installed it?

He did, but it now appears to be a Fiat problem - Smart alternator or battery.

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[Lenny HB]

I agree, that’s a disaster waiting to happen. If it’s not possible to move the positive leads, a shroud placed over the negative post would be a big improvement.

Ian

Some convoluted split trunking over the cable will do the job.

 

[Pausim]

He did, but it now appears to be a Fiat problem - Smart alternator or battery.

If the engine is starting and there are no warning lights or messages on the dash I would still be looking at the leisure battery system.

 

[bigtwin]

Shouldn't Phil be sorting it out if he installed it?

Does anyone else know who Phil is?

Ian

 

[rod_vw]

Maybe I shouldn't comment here a I am not a Ducato owner. However just to point out a couple of basics.
The item attached to the - ve pole of the battery is the battery monitoring module which supplies the smart alternator with its information to charge the battery to the correct level. There should NEVER be any other connection to the battery side of that item.
It's my assumption that the braided cable is the main - ve from the engine battery to ether chassis or main engine/transmission point.
Someone correctly pointed out that the red cable should either be moved or protected from the possibility of chafing against the - ve battery pole. It's a serious fire risk as it is!
Sorry to poke my nose in, I hope my comments help someone.

 

[Ian_H]

I agree, that’s a disaster waiting to happen. If it’s not possible to move the positive leads, a shroud placed over the negative post would be a big improvement.

Ian

I'd put sonething between them too, but is it different to the positive cable running over any metal part of the chassis?

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[Ian_H]

He did, but it now appears to be a Fiat problem - Smart alternator or battery.

David
I'm sure some of the guys here will be able to help you, but it might be worth starting a new thread with a title describing the problem and detailling exactly what you have installed and the problems/symptoms. Was the positive cable part of the lithium mods, as my 2023 Globecar Summit starter battery looks like this?

 

[bigtwin]

I'd put sonething between them too, but is it different to the positive cable running over any metal part of the chassis?

It’s the fact that it’s curving around an edge. Any bend going over an edge is a potential Wear Point. Resting on a flat metal surface isn’t a problem.

Ian