Ground for the center console

I have a 17 SR5 that I am wanting to install a rear seat 12 v plug in the center console. The plug I have only has a 1 ft ground wire. Is there a good ground in the center console area?

 

Fish it under the carpet and ground to the seat mounting bolt.

Easiest ground point I can think of in that area. Otherwise you're going forward and grounding under the gearshift console.

 

bolt hole for the inverter available?

 

I don't mind taking out the center console, it's where I actually want to secure the ground too. I just didn't know for sure if there was a safe ground in that area

 

There are several grounds in the console. Pick any bolt thats on metal and thats your ground.

 

Yep. Seat mounting bolt goes directly to cab/chassis. Just have to find a terminal big enough to go around that giant bolt.

Otherwise I thought most models have an outlet inside the console. It shouldn't be too difficult to tie into that if you don't plan on using both simultaneously. (I never use the stock console outlet.)

 

I'm curious if you ended up finding a good ground?

I'm doing the same install.

 

For low current items like power ports most any attachment point under the console to body will work.

Generally it is better to run a ground back or from the battery for higher current applications because the frame strap ground in the engine bay carries all new loads to frame and if any of the body to frame grounds fails you can have issues.

I ran a dedicated ground (and two hots) to my console area with auxiliary fuse panel. This gives me an always on port for cell phone charging. (It’s a bit more than that including an isolation battery- see my build thread for details on that).

net net any clean screw to bare metal underneath the console for a 10 or 25 amp port should work fine.

 

Any place in the console will work fine. I'm grounded on the bracket bolt above the inverter.

 

I was eyeing those bolts up, but they looked way too easy! Not my usual style, and I would be surprised if the universe would allow it to happen!

I'll give them a try!

 

In my 2nd gen they were fine. I used it for a constant-on 12v port for the rear passengers.