Negative ground advantage?

rvich · Mar 5, 2019

It isn't voodoo they are just intended to be wired with a dedicated positive and a dedicated ground. The mount or socket is isolated.

FWIW I have a boat with GPS, cell phone chargers and LED lights and none if it grounds to a frame. Lots of modern stuff on board!

74ok · Mar 5, 2019

baz said:
The reason I went to negative earth was solely because I wanted to fit an 02 sensor that is negative grnd (no doubt someone will tell me I didn't need to!)
But for me it was simple I had a 3 phase 180w alternator and a Honda regulator so it didn't cost anything to just swap the wires over
With the added benefit of LED headlight bulb and tail light /indicators
But if you don't need to swap over don't bother there's not much to gain

sounds like an easy way to go neg ground, got a part # for the honda reg?

Craig · Mar 5, 2019

I like the sound of “ positive grd. is better quality” .... guess I will leave my old bike as is ....thanks MMike !

Deets55 · Mar 5, 2019

84ok said:
sounds like an easy way to go neg ground, got a part # for the honda reg?

I just put a Shindengen in my Gold Wing works great. Just be careful my Honda had a separate diode pack and regulator. Depending on what you are planning to do you might need a Regulator/Recitfer.
Pete

74ok · Mar 5, 2019

https://www.shindengen.com/products/electro/motorcycle/reg/

Triton Thrasher · Mar 5, 2019

rvich said:
It isn't voodoo they are just intended to be wired with a dedicated positive and a dedicated ground. The mount or socket is isolated.

A headlight LED with full beam and dip live terminals and a common return will require correct polarity connection, unless it is electronically equipped to be dual polarity.

rvich · Mar 6, 2019

Triton Thrasher said:
A headlight LED with full beam and dip live terminals and a common return will require correct polarity connection, unless it is electronically equipped to be dual polarity.

I agree completely.

baz · Mar 6, 2019

84ok said:
sounds like an easy way to go neg ground, got a part # for the honda reg?

It's SH232-12 I fitted this year's ago when there wasn't as much choice on the market as there is now

Tornado · Mar 6, 2019

I have a BPF form factor double-dipper bulb in my 850 Commando from Dynamo Regulator Conversions (http://www.dynamoregulatorconversions.com/led-bulbs-especially-for-motorcycles-shop.php)

Multi voltage and positive earth variant option.
Also got their tail/brake light LED array board, which does a much better job spreading out the light within the Lucas lamp housing than the typical bayonet type LEDs.

bluto · Mar 10, 2019

The positive ground standard might be a carryover from telephone practice, it was (and still is) done that way to combat corrosion and the ground/earth side is literally connected to the earth.
https://www.poweringthenetwork.com/uncategorized/negative-48-volt-power-what-why-and-how/
Some polarity insensitive LED's and other devices just have a simple bridge rectifier input, that way the load will always see the polarity it wants...works fine however diodes drop about 0.7 volts each which could be a problem for some applications. (disregard the ground on the load side in the diagram)

Negative ground advantage?

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