Good discussion.

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If all the ground wires are connected to the same point, there is less chance of ground loops and other elusive electrical problems related to grounding.

Yep, made a living for a while chasing just that sort of thing.

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Ground is ground is ground.

Until you add hundreds of amps. Its like saying glass is a solid, yeah-but, not really. Not under some conditions or perspectives.

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One common ground point has its disadvantages too. For example if you have a bad ground instead of loosing only one item you will loose everything.

Losing all grounds instead of some of them would actually be preferable, otherwise a high current device starts looking for a return loop - maybe through the dash. Bzzzzzzzapppp!

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On the other hand, at $1.50 or more per foot of 1/0 cable, you could save some money by keeping the use of it to a minimum and connecting to the frame as close as possible.

There's the rub.

Sounds like if I am willing to risk the downside and mitigate it by bonding with care, it would work to just cable the positives. Not like I couldn't add it later if I get odd behavior - barring fires or letting the magic smoke out of something.

I do notice Warn recommends taking the ground all the way to the battery, but then is that the engineers, accountants, or the lawyers talking? If the cost is borne by others, then darn the cost. Otherwise,...

-Bill
'87 4Runner w/ '96 5VZ-FE, 'Red Chili II'
'97 Taco XtraCab 3RZ-FE, 'BlackBean'
TLCA # 13257, Rising Sun 4x4 Club Land Use Coordinator
"He who stops being better stops being good." -Oliver Cromwell