charliemyers
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Post by charliemyers on Sept 9, 2018 12:10:27 GMT -8
I understand that trailer lights are grounded through the base & attachment screws touching the aluminum skin, but in the interest of a more reliable ground, I’ve run ground wires for each of my lights on the outside of the camper. But on the VTS LED Teardrop lights, I’m not real sure where to connect a ground wire without damaging the circuit board. Ant thoughts? I hope that these photos work...if not I’ll fix them tomorrow. Thanks! Edit: pictures didn’t work. I can’t get the correct URL on this device. I’ll fix ‘em tomorrow. Save
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roadtripper
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Post by roadtripper on Sept 10, 2018 6:00:50 GMT -8
I had the same thoughts and I THINK this is what I did. I had already run the extra ground wire to each location so I crimped a small connector to the wire and put it under one of the 3 attachment screws on the new vts teardrop lights. The lights are great by the way.
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RinTin
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Post by RinTin on Sept 10, 2018 16:57:41 GMT -8
I ran into this problem as well and at the time wondered if/when someone else would.
Perhaps there was a good reason for doing so, but instead of using a common #6-32 stainless machine screw to fasten the cap to the base, the VTS light uses a very hard to find #6-40 stainless screw. After many hours of scouring the web I found some from Fastenal that just work, but do so quite well. Fastenal part #0174037, #6-40 x 1-1/8" Slotted Drive Pan Head Grade 18-8 Stainless Steel Machine Screw and part #0170984, #6-40 18-8 Stainless Steel Machine Screw Nuts. Here's a few pic's:
Don't forget a drop of blue Loctite to help keep the nut secure.
Hole hogged out to clear the new nut and ring terminal and 1/16" butyl "tacky tape" applied.
Good squeeze out for a good water tight seal.
At the time it cost me $21.30 shipped to my door, a costly but well worth it solution IMHO.
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roadtripper
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Post by roadtripper on Sept 11, 2018 6:12:29 GMT -8
Nice job rin tin. And great pictures. Now I remember I just fastened the extra wire to the skin right behind the fixture. I also remember I had used rigid insulation and getting the wires tucked back in was hard. Leaving a 2 square inch void in the rigid there would help.
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charliemyers
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Post by charliemyers on Sept 11, 2018 7:17:40 GMT -8
Awesome RinTin! I think there's a Fastenal within an hour of here, and I'm headed in that direction this evening. Maybe I'll slip in to see if they might have some on hand. Thanks!
I had actually thought about drilling that hole out and cutting a more common thread size, but at $15 each for the lights I didn't want to chance it.
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dragonwagons
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Post by dragonwagons on Feb 25, 2020 10:52:58 GMT -8
Bringing this one back from the dead, to say thank you. I just ordered the parts from fastenall. The link made it realy easy, too bad they don’t use a more common thread size.
After running a ground wire to all the lights, it’s still the details that matter. I hate it when the non twinkle lights twinkle.
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