Grounding lights on a rusty trailer.

GrandPrix74

Cadet
Joined
Jan 12, 2014
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12
Having a hard time getting a ground on a trailer with a fair amount of surface rust. I'm know rust isn't good for conductivity but it seems extra hard to get a ground. My thoughts are to run jumper cable between sections of the trailer until I have time to clean up the trailer. Thoughts?
 

poconojoe

Lieutenant Commander
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Sep 10, 2010
Messages
1,966
Instead of using the trailer frame as a ground, why not run a dedicated ground from the tongue connector all the way to each light? Mine is wired that way. Much better way to connect. No problems with rust, grounding at each light or worries of trailer sections grounded together properly. Or, you can buy a new harness that will have everything you need. They're not that expensive and the way trailer wiring can drive you crazy, sometimes it's better to start new. You can use the old wiring to pull in the new wires. hook the new wires to the old, electrical tape them up and have someone feed them while you pull the new in.
 
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bruceb58

Supreme Mariner
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Mar 5, 2006
Messages
30,589
Grind down to bare metal, make your ground attachment and then paint over the connection so it is sealed. That's all I ever do and never have an issue. Have a picture of your trailer?
 

GrandPrix74

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Jan 12, 2014
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12
Super advice. Thanks so much. New to all this but learning and this forum is great. Hope I can give back one day.
 

Grandad

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Jun 7, 2011
Messages
1,504
I agree with poconojoe. Run a dedicated negative wire and forget trying to ground to the frame. Using a frame or chassis ground as a negative return path is adequate within a vehicle body that's protected from the elements, but it's mickey-mouse wiring for trailers. - Grandad
 

bruceb58

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
30,589
The problem with running grounds is that you are adding a lot more complexity that you don't need to. Do you home run each ground wire? Do you daisy chain? When a set of lights don't work, now you have to investigate the source and return path. Personally, I have no issues with grounds ever and I don't run dedicated grounds.
 
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