BASIC TERMINOLOGY:

LOAD:  This is the working item that the supply voltage operates. It can be intermittent (like a starter) or it may be continuous (like your ignition or headlights).

B+ :  This is generally the positive voltage supply, and the Primary source (such as the positive battery post and/or cable).

B- :  This is generally the negative voltage supply, and the Primary source (such as the negative battery post and/or cable).

GROUND:  This is generally common to the B- but isn't necessarily so, as you will see later in trouble-shooting.

CLOSED LOOP:  Any circuit which must have load-bearing capability in order to operate. An example of this is your starter; it requires that both B+ and B- be connected to crank your engine. Because of the extreme amperage required to spin the engine, the B+ is routed through a solenoid (i.e., high amp relay).

OPEN LOOP:  Any circuit which functions with induction. We will pass on this for a while as it gets very complicated. However, open loop fundamentals are needed for good trouble-shooting techniques.

FLOATING SOURCE:  This is a source voltage (either B+ and/or B-) which does not have a direct path to the LOAD. This is the number one PROBLEM in T Buckets! It can also create high resistance paths which will ultimately fail. They can cause fires, reversing polarity on the load thus causing load failure, and countless other headaches.

Let's begin with the most basic wiring: the BATTERY

This is your SOURCE VOLTAGE supply.

Every single electrical item on your T Bucket depends on it. The positive cable will start at the [+] (positive) post on the battery (it will be at least an "0" gauge wire) and is generally RED in color. This wire must connect directly to the primary post on the starter relay -- absolutely NO exceptions.

The B- cable (also known as GROUND, and at least "0" gauge) is generally Black in color will start at the [-] (negative) post on the battery and will connect to the engine block -- NO exceptions.

If these are correct, 95% of your "source voltage" is correct!

CHASSIS GROUND:  This is the remaining 5%. You must have a ground strap from the engine to the chassis. This is generally a flat braided cable (tin in color) which grounds the chassis to the engine block. Without this strap, your loads are getting a floating ground connection -- NOT GOOD (even though the loads may work)!

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SUMMARY:

Positive cable goes directly to the starter relay and
the negative cable goes directly to the engine block.
The preferred location for the ground cable is the mounting
bolts on the starter. The Ground strap connects the engine
and chassis together. The preferred location for the ground
strap is the mounting bolts on the starter as well.

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You MUST have this much of your wiring correct on your T Bucket
before we can proceed to the loads, charging circuits and trouble-shooting.