aluminum case ground?

[txredxj]

kicking around ideas for a mod and was wondering about using the case as a ground. the idea is to use a piece of square aluminum that you cap on both ends. bottom plate would be the hatch to load the 18650s and serve as the ground. i would use some springs held down with washers and bolts. top plate would have a grounding post of some kind to use as a common ground for the electronics. im thinking it would work since tube mods do it like this but im not an electrical wiz like the guys that design this stuff are. would ss screws help or just run a wire down to the bottom plate and be done with it?

 

[Sovran]

Run the ground wire. Less chances of some hot wire creating a direct short via the case.

 

[txredxj]

well... im wanting to mount my springs to the bottom plate so the case will be grounded anyways. trying to make it clean and simple. with the wire i will have a strip across the springs to solder to in the middle,or another bolt through the plate to fasten a ring terminal to.

 

[Commie]

Look at pictures of mechanical Reos and their guts. It's a very simple and very reliable setup, for pretty much what you're trying to do, if I understood you correctly.

 

[DrMA]

Many mods use the case as common (ground). You're gonna need special aluminum solder (it's zinc-based) and flux if you want to solder to it. Alternatively, you can always use screws to secure wires to the aluminum for good electrical contact.

 

[Sovran]

If you are making a mechanical then there arnt that many wires. I assumed you were going VV/VW in which case you are going to have wires everywhere. Best case if something goes wrong- it doesnt work. Average case- you blow your board. Worst case- your battery goes super nova (in a metal case). Not trying to dampen your spirits, but you stated you were not an electrical wiz. If you are making a mech, I dont see an issue with your plan. If it is a VV/VW, make sure you have covered all the what ifs.

 

[txredxj]

it will be a dna20 mod. i have some poly fuses like mamu used in the Milo build (was alot of help, thanks if you see this) and read about other people using them as well. i really like the Lexi and Max style builds. i dont know how the internals are put in but i have my own idea about how to do it.

 

[Sovran]

There are plenty of build threads for the DNA20. Read them all. The fuses should take care of any worst case issues. Good luck, cant wait to see pics.