Why everyone says check your grounds

Charging, starting, lighting, gauges, HVAC

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Canonman67
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Why everyone says check your grounds

Post by Canonman67 »

Grounding the electrical system is an important part of wiring anything. Without completing the circuit all kinds of crazy things can happen. Here's an example of strange behavior with my new taillights. Image

When I first connected them I had to rig a temporary ground to get them to work. Then I realized I needed to raise them so I could hang the license plate off the bracket and when I did that they worked without the ground but as you can see in the photo they were weak and the backup lights also flashed with them though at a much lower output. Today I installed new stainless nuts and bolts in all three holes and the problem went from the left turn signal to the right, keep in mind through all this the brake lights worked fine. After I plugged the switch in that is. Image

I added the ground wire to the right side and everything works as it should. I still need to ground the system properly since right now I've only got a ten gauge wire going from the battery to the core support to test the various systems as I hook them up. I'm assuming that once I have proper grounds running to the frame and block everything will work as it should.
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Ranchero50
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Re: Why everyone says check your grounds

Post by Ranchero50 »

Yep...

Just a FYI, if you spray the inside of your lamp housing with the cheap chrome paint your lights will really shine when lit. My cab clearance lamps turn road signs orange with the chrome painted bases.
'70 F-350 CS Cummins 6BT 10klb truck 64k mile Bahama Blue

Contact me for CNC Dome Lamp Bezels and Ash Tray pulls.
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Canonman67
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Re: Why everyone says check your grounds

Post by Canonman67 »

Thanks Ranchero50, I found a can of the same in the garage so I'll be doing that this weekend.
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