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[Shanne]

(03-04-2012 04:10 PM)HRM Wrote:  For what it is worth, I read in the manual of the innovate gauge that the ground for the gauge is best shared with the ground for the ECU, or readings can vary.. I realize we are talking about the ECU, but planning ahead may come into play and the reason for my post.

From the install instructions for those planning on installing a wideband...

The BEST grounding scheme is all grounds (i.e., ECU, Gauges, LC1 heater, LC1
system, etc.) SOLDERED into a single lug and bolted to the engine block.
2. The next best is all grounds attached to the same source, as close as possible, but on
separate lugs. This is because even the corrosion between lugs can create ground
offset and noise. Incidentally, this is why many ECUs have separate ground wires for
injectors vs. ECU system ground- separating high voltages and low voltages reduces
noise.
3. Grounding to the engine block is usually better than grounding to the frame.
4. Grounding a gauge to the radio is usually bad- ground offset can vary with volume.
5. Grounding to an ECU housing is generally not optimal- housings are strapped to the
frame for shielding, but not necessarily grounded.
6. One of the WORST things to do is to ground most of your electronics to one place (i.e.
the engine block), but ground one device somewhere else (i.e., the frame). Not only can
this result in ground offsets, it can also create a “path of least resistance” for high
currents THROUGH a low-current device. This can result in melted wires and vaporized
diodes, when, for example, starter currents flow through gauges.

Yeah I've hook them up how they say too, and it just gives bad counts. I hook one ground to the block and one ground only that is the wideband. Then I ground the head, block, tranny, valvecover(headagain) and intake mani. I have never had a bad reading this way. I take grounds very serious. lol.