MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Positive ground?

Hi! New to the MG scene with a quick question. My 58 MGA coupe has a newer 12 volt battery. The positive terminal is on the left (looking toward rear of car) and is immediately bolted to a post next to the battery. The negative terminal has a very thick cable (much thicker than the positive cable) going somewhere toward the back of the car. Based on this information, can someone tell me whether the car is positive or negative ground? Or is more information needed?

Thanks!
Pat
P.R. Fahey

Positive or negative earth describes which battery terminal goes to the "chassis or earth". Thus in your case it sounds like your battery positive is fixed to the chassis and is therefore "positive earth".
Bob (Robert) Midget Turbo

Please substitute Ground for Earth. Sorry. Must be a British thing.
Bob (Robert) Midget Turbo

Pat,
From your description it sounds like the positive terminal is grounded, which would make the car "positive ground". However, when you say "post" are you talking about a structural member of the car? I'm a bit baffled by your description of the negative cable running "somewhere toward the back of the car". The main cable normally runs forward along the frame to the starter switch. You might want to trace this cable.

Regards,
Gerry Foster
G T Foster

Bob & Gerry,

Thanks for your responses. It sounds like I've got positive 'earth'. That's what I was thinking. The post I was referring to looks like it was just a convenient piece of metal to which the earth wire could be connected. No wiring goes on from there. I'm certain of that.
Thanks again!

Pat

P.S. What a nice change from my '64 GTO, which I had owned for almost 25 years. Who needs neck breaking torque anyway? I'm lovin the MGA!


P.R. Fahey

Pat, can you give me some more info on your 12v battery. I've been trying to find one that will fit in my stock Coupe battery racks and so far haven't been able to find any that will fit.

Thanks

Andy
Andy Preston

Pat,
Have you contacted the Columbia Gorge MGA Club in Portland. There are many like minded fun loving MGA drivers in this Club, and they will be most helpful to you when you need to figure out how the positive earth/ground affects things like your generator, radio, and instruments.
Peter.
P. Tilbury

Andy,

Sorry for the delayed response. (been away) The battery that was installed in my car is an Interstate battery. I don't know if they had to do anything special to make it fit or not. It didn't look like there were any modifications. There is a bungie cord around it and it looks like it (the cord) has been there for some time. Doubt that it is stock, huh? If you need more info on the battery, let me know. I'll check it out more closely.

L8R,
Pat
P.R. Fahey

Hi Andy - a colleague in our club used a Fiat Punto battery in his 1600Mk2 - said it was perfect fit.
Cam Cunningham

This thread was discussed between 11/11/2008 and 19/11/2008

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGA BBS now