Super dumb 12v wiring solar setup question

[Kmehr]

I'm in the final stages of my camper remodel and am at the wiring stage. Everything I have is 12v only- lights, fridge, furnace and fantastic fan. I have a Renogy 100W solar panel and accompanying controller, and a 100aH sealed lead acid deep cycle battery.

Here is my real question, and I can't find the answer to it, maybe because its so dumb...do I "ground" the negative terminal of the battery to anything? Or do I just connect all the negative wiring from the appliances to the negative terminal of the battery?

Electricity is tricky and I don't want to fry anything!

 

[calicamper]

I bought a ground bar and this let me tie all the various stuff to a ground bar. You typically do not tie the battery to the ground given risk for a open circuit can cause a fire etc.

Look up closed loop 12v

Some light fixtures might be grounded near the fixture

 

[calicamper]

Led i think needs to tied back to the neg battery terminal

 

[Kmehr]

So as long as all the negative sides of the appliances are connected to the negative terminal of the battery, it's good? The negative terminal of the battery doesn't itself need to be connected to the frame?( not much metal in my camper to ground to...)

 

[john61ct]

It doesn't matter **where** you get chassis grounds connected.

Remember Starter motor is already at that common ground potential.

Do not depend on chassis for your load return side, but when you have an opportunity to connect a distribution box or buss bar or inverter chassis, etc to the vehicle frame / body, do so.