hoosierpoet
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Post by hoosierpoet on Sept 1, 2013 4:57:20 GMT -8
I'm wondering if I messed up on my tail lights and license plate light? The bases on my tail lights were very rusty, so we sanded and then primed with Rustoleum primer, and painted with a metallic silver automotive paint, being careful to keep the paint away from the bulb sockets. The Bargman Trail-Lite was very pitted and too expensive to re-chrome, so we had it powder-coated, again keeping the bulb socket clear. (they removed it.) But suddenly, I started thinking (that happens every now and then, it comes and goes): What about the ground? All the bulbs ha e one wire only, so I presume they ground through the fixture into the trailer skin. Can it do that through paint? Through plastic powder-coat? What do I need to do? We are supposed to go campling a week from tomorrow!
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Post by universalexports on Sept 1, 2013 5:36:54 GMT -8
not really, paint is more of an insulator than conductor, you need to remove a bit of paint so the fixtures contact the aluminum skin, also make sure the screws arent rusted as this is also another path to create a ground.
that or connect a ground wire from the fixture down to the frame.
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Post by bigbill on Sept 1, 2013 17:24:14 GMT -8
many lights ground through the mounting bolts/screws make sure those surfaces are free of any kind of coating. If that doesn't work solder a ground wire to the outside of the actual bulb socket and connect it to a good ground. You can also ground the rear outside skin to the frame helping to insure a good path to ground.
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Post by vikx on Sept 1, 2013 21:04:54 GMT -8
You can bare an area on the light base and rivet a small wire to attach to the skin. (under a screw or...) I would also bare the screw head area. That should give you a good ground without the rivet. Run a small wire from the skin to the frame at the bottom.
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soup
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"I hate cold Soup"
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Post by soup on Sept 2, 2013 3:03:51 GMT -8
All need to be bare metal;
Screw holes front & back of plate, back of plate where screw holes rest on skin, where screw heads meet the backing plate, screws need to be clean, paint and rust free, screws have to get a good bite in the skin, same with where the bulb socket meets the plate, pop rivet, etc.
X2 Vikx. See above.
Good luck and good ground.
soup
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