Re: [VAC] Marker light grounding. New idea.

["Dr. Gerald N. Johnson" <geraldj@xxxxxxxx>]

OK, I've removed one light. I found a 1-1/2" hole behind it. Makes it
possible to work on wiring inside. I've looked a drilling or milling a
hole for my pigtail... While looking it strikes me that since the long
term problem is the plastic that I can use a flat endmill to remove the
plastic bushing behind the mounting hole with the ground strap. Then I
can put a screw through that mounting hole from the inside (aluminum or
stainless steel) with lock washer and nut on the outside of the trailer
skin. With the ground strap bared from behind I can add another nut or
washers to shim the stud up to the height of the original plastic and
then install another nut and lock washer out front inside the light to
make the same screw provide anchor and ground and not have plastic under
pressure.

That big hole was closed with a wad of plumber's putty that was still
pliant stuck to the back of the light. This model (Grote 232) has enough
room for my first pigtail idea, except no room for the screw head
anchoring the ground end of the pigtail.

An alternative to the screw from the inside of the shell might be an
aluminum spacer (with aluminum conductor contact grease every contact
place) replacing the plastic boss, and still mount with a self tapping
screw. The important thing is that the spacer or nuts bear on the back
of the ground strap, not on plastic. Next I'll look about removing that
boss with the milling machine.

Oh, the lens on this marker is a Bargman #52 and it fits perfectly
though it has no dome. It's flat.

Gerald