Shocked by CUCV battery hold down bracket

[Gunfreak25]

I was just replacing some fuel return lines on the 6.2, passenger side. Wet salty shirt and skin, leaned over enough to get a nice little buzz on my arm and chest when I came in contact with the battery hold down bolts. Not the posts themselves. Curious as to how I could be feeling voltage from the battery hold down hardware?

Truck is wired correctly, obviously. Good solid grounds (using new 2 gauge cables).

 

[Keith_J]

Thin skin in the area you were shocked? 12 volts is enough, 24 will definitely get your attention. Fingers and palms have very thick skin, your soft underbelly and especially your tongue will notice 12 volts.

 

[Gunfreak25]

Could very well be! Didnt think of that.

 

[Tinstar]

If you were lightly shocked by the mounts themselves and not the battery post, you definitely have issues somewhere.
That is not normal.

Will a voltmeter read anything?

No charging or light issues?

 

[Gunfreak25]

Yes it was by the mounts. No charge issues, lights extinguish normally.

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[Guyfang]

If you are not checking with a multimeter, you are not checking. I can think of at least one way this could happen. Check, check, and check again.

 

[Gunfreak25]

What am I checking for?

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[cucvrus]

Nothing. It is normal when you are touching the battery positive to get a slight shock from the rest of the truck. But only on your thin skin like mentioned in the beginning. All is well. Have a Shocking experience.

 

[Guyfang]

The battery hold down bolt is supposed to have positive voltage on it? I don't think so. If what I read in the first post is right, he said that he got shocked on the battery hold down bolt. If in fact it was the battery post, your right. Nothing to worry about. But not hardware.

I would measure for DC voltage, from the hold down bolt to the negative post on the battery. You should get nothing, Nada. The bolt should be the same as ground. In fact, if you switch the meter to ohms, and read from the bolt to any clean metal surface, it should read continuity.

How could the bolt be "hot" with 24 volts? Several ways. A wire could be pinched between the bolt, and battery. If the hold down bolt is not making good contact to ground, then it would be hot. I can think of at least one other way. I find it very hard to believe, but it COULD be so. Its easy to disprove, simply measure. I tend to believe you brushed the post, and didn't notice it. And yes, the skin of your are will conduct voltage, as the resistance is much lower there then your hands.

 

[Mainsail]

What am I checking for?

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Put your multimeter in ohms and connect the black lead to something metal, then touch the negative terminal on the front battery with the red lead. The meter should indicate zero-ish ohms. If it's an analog meter the needle will swing swiftly to the other side and hold on or very near zero.

Now you know you have a reliable ground.

Without disconnecting the black lead that is still connected to the bare metal, switch your multimeter to volts DC. Then touch the red lead to the battery hold down bolt you believe zapped you. Report back what the meter reading is.

 

[MarcusOReallyus]

Check for voltage BEFORE doing a continuity test. IF there is voltage there, you could fry a meter. At best, you'll get incorrect readings.

But I agree with Guyfang. This was probably just an ooops moment. Contact with the terminal AND the posts without realizing it. Zap. I have gotten zapped enough to be unpleasant from 12v on a sweaty summer day when I got my palm grounded and 12v on the back of my hand.

 

[cucvrus]

The world may never know. Now on with the show.

 

[Gunfreak25]

Put your multimeter in ohms and connect the black lead to something metal, then touch the negative terminal on the front battery with the red lead. The meter should indicate zero-ish ohms. If it's an analog meter the needle will swing swiftly to the other side and hold on or very near zero.

Now you know you have a reliable ground.

Without disconnecting the black lead that is still connected to the bare metal, switch your multimeter to volts DC. Then touch the red lead to the battery hold down bolt you believe zapped you. Report back what the meter reading is.

Zero ish ohms and then zero volts when switched to DC. So I must've hit the battery post while touching the hold down bolt with the hair on my chinny chin chin.

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[Mainsail]

Check for voltage BEFORE doing a continuity test. IF there is voltage there, you could fry a meter. At best, you'll get incorrect readings.

If there is voltage between two common GROUND points, the batteries would be dead in a minute or less.

 

[saltman]

Bringing this thread up from the past, gunfreak where did you find the new studs used on your front battery bracket? Thanks!