Electrical For discussions regarding wiring up electrical modifications such as radar detectors, brake light mods, power sockets, and driving lights in Cooper (R50), Cabrio (R52), and Cooper S (R53) MINIs.

Electrical Ground in cabin for Hella 500 install

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 21, 2019 | 09:03 PM
  #1  
Racingguy04's Avatar
Racingguy04
Thread Starter
|
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 938
Likes: 127
Ground in cabin for Hella 500 install

I'm adding some hella 500's to my car for night driving and I'm almost done, but I can't find an easily accessible ground in the cabin for the switch. Does anybody know of a convenient ground near the center console, or the fuse panel? My backup is to run the ground through the firewall near the hinge for the hood, but it's a pain to get the wires through the grommet, and I don't want to stretch out the rubber too much in case I decide to pull this whole thing off.
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2019 | 04:43 AM
  #2  
N0B0DY's Avatar
N0B0DY
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 396
Likes: 106
Just find a place that's metal. The whole chassis is grounded.
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2019 | 05:33 AM
  #3  
iwashmycar's Avatar
iwashmycar
6th Gear
iTrader: (8)
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,313
Likes: 104
From: Columbus, Ohio
I think I had found a screw over near the dead-pedal area when I had to ground a switch. On a more recent install I actually ran an extra ground wire with my relay trigger wire back out to the engine bay just so i wouldnt have to ground a switch inside at all. Was actually worth it.
 
Reply
Old Feb 26, 2019 | 05:52 PM
  #4  
JAB 67's Avatar
JAB 67
6th Gear
15 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 60
From: Fairfax, VA
Iwashmycar: Where did you route your wires through the firewall?
 
Reply
Old Feb 26, 2019 | 06:00 PM
  #5  
TwoWings's Avatar
TwoWings
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 29
Likes: 5
Here's one way to find one...hook up a wire to 12V source and bring it in to the cabin...expose a little bit of the bare wire taking care to not let it touch metal and use a VOM meter set on DC Volts....connect the postiive lead to the wire and then use the common lead to touch likely grounding points...you'll know you have a good one when the VOM reads 12+ volts...
 
Reply
Old Feb 26, 2019 | 07:37 PM
  #6  
Racingguy04's Avatar
Racingguy04
Thread Starter
|
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 938
Likes: 127
Originally Posted by JAB 67
Iwashmycar: Where did you route your wires through the firewall?
I'm not sure where he put his through, but I used the grommet behind the brake booster when you're looking in the engine bay. It's a bit of a pain, but it's better than drilling holes in stuff. https://cdn4.pelicanparts.com/techar...mall/Pic21.JPG
 
Reply
Old Feb 26, 2019 | 07:38 PM
  #7  
Racingguy04's Avatar
Racingguy04
Thread Starter
|
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 938
Likes: 127
Originally Posted by TwoWings
Here's one way to find one...hook up a wire to 12V source and bring it in to the cabin...expose a little bit of the bare wire taking care to not let it touch metal and use a VOM meter set on DC Volts....connect the postiive lead to the wire and then use the common lead to touch likely grounding points...you'll know you have a good one when the VOM reads 12+ volts...
Thanks for the tip! I might try this, though I think I've just resigned myself to running another wire through the firewall. It might end up being the simplest option.
 
Reply
Old Feb 27, 2019 | 05:57 AM
  #8  
iwashmycar's Avatar
iwashmycar
6th Gear
iTrader: (8)
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,313
Likes: 104
From: Columbus, Ohio
Originally Posted by JAB 67
Iwashmycar: Where did you route your wires through the firewall?
Originally Posted by Racingguy04
I'm not sure where he put his through, but I used the grommet behind the brake booster when you're looking in the engine bay. It's a bit of a pain, but it's better than drilling holes in stuff. https://cdn4.pelicanparts.com/techar...mall/Pic21.JPG

This. There is a roughly 1" diameter grommet easily seen from inside the up under the dash a little. Worked out well.
 
Reply
Old Mar 1, 2019 | 02:58 PM
  #9  
JAB 67's Avatar
JAB 67
6th Gear
15 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 60
From: Fairfax, VA
Thanks guys!
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
minimike21
Electrical
7
Jan 4, 2012 09:24 PM
Jeremy1026
Interior/Exterior
9
May 15, 2010 07:43 AM
MInI___Gz
R56 :: Hatch Talk (2007+)
68
Apr 17, 2010 06:45 PM
Kazy
Interior/Exterior
4
Dec 17, 2008 09:56 AM
Aeromax
Electrical
17
Jan 27, 2007 05:57 PM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:28 PM.