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Bill G · 08-23-2017, 06:47 PM

"Ground" is just a reference point.

For the charging system and other parts of the vehicle itself, the ground in reference to the rest is positive, which means that the hot wire is negative. With the converter, and in reference to the output of the converter, ground is negative relative to just that system, and hot is positive. As long as you don't cross the two hot leads, the grounds can very much coexist.

Therefore, the CB power would have its negative connected to ground, and its positive connected to the positive output of the converter. They are two separate "systems" with a common ground.

Same thing at home. The 110volt power has a common neutral that is an offset to the hot lead, but happens to be at "ground" or zero potential.

08-23-2017, 06:47 PM	#10
Bill G Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Walla Walla, WA Posts: 1,045	Re: Help needed with cb install. "Ground" is just a reference point. For the charging system and other parts of the vehicle itself, the ground in reference to the rest is positive, which means that the hot wire is negative. With the converter, and in reference to the output of the converter, ground is negative relative to just that system, and hot is positive. As long as you don't cross the two hot leads, the grounds can very much coexist. Therefore, the CB power would have its negative connected to ground, and its positive connected to the positive output of the converter. They are two separate "systems" with a common ground. Same thing at home. The 110volt power has a common neutral that is an offset to the hot lead, but happens to be at "ground" or zero potential.