can someone explain negative earth?

[mk2*mad]

As title, can anyone explain in simple terms what exactly is meant by negative earth? thanks

[Savvi]

It means the negative side of the battery goes to the body of the vehicle, making it negative earth.

 

 

 

If the positive side of the battery goes to the body then it's positive earth

[mk2*mad]

It means the negative side of the battery goes to the body of the vehicle, making it negative earth.

 

 

 

If the positive side of the battery goes to the body then it's positive earth

does this effect the way a electrical tester would have to work? when i was testing cables which i thought were earths today, I found i had to clip the live part of the tester on to the earth cable, and touch the body to get a reading...so is the car postive or negative earth? thanks

[Savvi]

If the wires were earth's then YES you would have to clip one of the leads to a live

 

The only exception is if you had the metre on OHMS or a "bleep" setting.

 

To get a reading one cable has to see a live and one an earth.

 

You only have to look at the Battery and see which terminal is connected to the body to tell if it's neg or pos earth.

[over_head_cam]

Perhaps the wires you thought were earths were not?