Thanks for the info - so far have been connecting to the + side of the battery.
Will change my approach re the battery.
Greatly appreciated. Would like to stick around to finish this project.
Touching the positive risks serious damage if it touches the negative ground frame somehow.
A old friend exploded a motor cycle battery by doing that, fortunately the battery had been on the charger and was off the bike and it was filled with hydrogen, a spark inside and POOF, acid everywhere.