There is a difference between the two !

[Bob]

what do you mean Geezer ?
my relay has 4 terminals to it... the one that is controled by the relay and completes the curcuit between the 2 large terminals... then there are 2 smaller terminals  which is the coil for the electromagnet that makes the relay work... one end of this coil goes to ground... the other to the key switch ....
... I tried to picture what you were trying to say but I got lost in there somewhere ! HEHEHEH
...
can you ground the generator when the key is OFF ? that might be a great idea...
how do ya do that ?
...
Bob..........

[numberonekiwi]

thats a great idea geazer would stop production almost imediately

Bob with some Auto relays you have 5 pins 2 are of course the coil then the other 3 a common NC and NO if you have only four pins on you relay then you will have Common and NO ( NO= normally open and NC= Normally closed without the coil energised ) a 5 pin relay may look exactly the same as yours but have an extra pin depending on the brand you use

The common is connected to the cell itself the NO is connected to +ve and the NC is connected to the chassis when power is applied to the coil the relay conducts +ve from the NO terminal which is now closed and flows to the common and into the cell when the coil is dis engaged the power in the cell flows back from the common to the NC terminal to the chassis

[Bob]

Ugh...I can't get my head around that at the moment... still thinking tero cells ! HAHAHAH
so how would I hook up my relay so I can ground the cell when its not energized ?
...
Bob...

[geezer]

numberone  explained it better than i could. with 5 pin relay hook 4 wires same as now 5th.pin to ground.

[Bob]

but , but I only got a 4 post Relay... the 2 posts that energize the sylinoid are hooked one to the ignition curcuit and the other to ground... ...
I don't see how it can be done with my relay... come to that I still don see how your unit can be grounded when not in use.... DUH ! I'm cornfuzelated!
...
Bob.......

[geezer]

are you useing solonoid or relay? most  solo. only have 3 or 4 term.  you can get relays with 5 term. 2 for the coil the other 3 are like single pole double throw sw. when isnot energised n.c. points hook gen to ground when energised sw flips n.o. points now closed and hooks gen to batt pos.  most automotive relays terms are marked  normanley no & nc are 87 & 87a load is30 or 80

[Bob]

Its definately a Sylonid or how ever ya spell it ... got it at a generator rebuilder shop !
not a relay as a DPDT type by any means !

Bob......