This is a good way to visualize it, but not completely accurate.  ALL
electrons carry a negative charge.  An electron with a positive charge is a
positron, one of the particles of antimatter.

Electricity always flows from negative to positive.  In a DC system, like a
vehicle, the flow is always in the same direction.  In an AC system, like a
house, the negative and positive terminals trade places (60 times a second
in the US) so the electrons flow back and forth.  Even here, the flow is
always from negative to positive.  It's just that negative and positive
keep swapping ends.

Grounds are so important in a 12v system because 12v cannot jump much of a
gap.  A connection that would work fine for 120v is just not good enough
for 12v.  Add to that the fact that our VWs operate under conditions that
promote corrosion, and the connections can get bad quickly.  Grounds are
more of a problem, because it is usually a copper to steel connection.  If
you run electricity through a junction of different metals, the electricy
will produce corrosion.

At 09:07 AM 12/18/99 -0500, Bulley wrote:
>A "ground" is simply the point on the body where negative electrons
>continue their trip back to the battery's negative terminal. Most of the
>wires in your van carry positive electrons, flowing away from the battery,
>through various lamps and gizmos, the remnants seeking to return to the
>battery.
Bill (SE Arizona) (Bill@freeholder.com) HTTP://www.freeholder.com
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