grounding question re: the neg battery cable

Basic automotive wiring theory 101. Great job guys. I am breaking myself of an old habit of using a test light and using a multimeter. I fried a battery and blew out most of the light bulbs in my car a few years back because I didn't have a proper ground on a new electronic voltage regulator. The alternator was charging at 16 1/2 volts plus. toolmanmike