Do you need special wire for ground?

[tpcollins]

Last year I mounted a winch in my pickup bed so I could raise my tripod by myself. I went to use it yesterday and it was dead - spent half of today tearing it apart and found out the ground wire to the chassis broke off at the terminal.

The wire is 4 gauge copper multi-strand wire I got at an audio shop, the terminal lug (aluminum probably) came from the hardware store. The last 3"-4" of the stranded wire was corroded and really hard compared to the rest of the wire.

Should I have used a copper terminal instead of aluminum? I'm thinking I had some sort of chemical reaction between the metals but I'm not sure. I might just get a ground wire at the auto store tomorrow instead. Thanks.

[mac0515]

Sounds like it may have been a bad crimp on the lug

[miket]

Sounds like galvanic corrosion. Has it been around salt water? Aluminum and copper together arent a problem but aluminum can corrode if in contact with an electrolyte like salt water. Copper can corrode too but Im not as familiar with the conditions required..

[Raypo]

Ground it in a common ground area near the taillights, trailer hook up...

[Hard Knocks]

When attaching copper to aluminum use nolox to prevent corrosion

[tpcollins]

I got serious and replaced the old wire wire with a 40" black starter cable - and I covered the attachment with a gob of plasti-dip. I'll see how it looks in the spring . . .

[the-butcher]

Should of used copper connection aluminum will work but not near as well.

[Osceola]

I got serious and replaced the old wire wire with a 40" black starter cable - and I covered the attachment with a gob of plasti-dip. I'll see how it looks in the spring . . .

That should work.I used #4 welding lead and a copper connector.

[PineyWoodsBow]

When attaching copper to aluminum use nolox to prevent corrosion

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