gengine
Platinum Member
All my trailers are grounded through the ball, as well as the plug, and seems to be more than enough.
PLEASE HELP-Electric Brakes
- Thread starter flyingcow
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flyingcow
Veteran Member
The ball is a hideaway hitch. I think the lube i put on it is not letting it get a full ground. Good sunday afternoon project.
Some trailers already have a ground wire, but not all, and sooner or later, corrosion will likely end up affecting the ground points. That said, if it isn't equipped with a ground wire, I like to attach a ground wire to the ground lead of the connector, and run it down the length of the trailer, so all ground points can be tied into it.
If the trailer connector doesn't have a ground wire, get one that does, because grounding through the ball can cause problems, especially if a layer of rust, grease, or other material hardens to form an insulating layer.
Also, I like to solder all connections and cover them with shrink wrap tubing to ensure a water tight connection. Those crimp-on connectors commonly used on trailer wiring are cheap junk, and will usually fail sooner rather than later.
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flyingcow
Veteran Member
Thanks Massey. 3 or 4 points of contact good enough? Thats a simple enough job
I'm not sure what you mean by points of contact. Do you mean for the ground? Please explain and I'll try to clarify if necessary.
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flyingcow
Veteran Member
Yes ground. I just envisioned running a ground strap the length of frame, with 4 points of contact.
Travelover
Elite Member
You need a good ground at each brake and at each light coming from the tow wiring plug-in connector. The ball is a mechanical connector, not an electrical connector, except by accident.
crazyal
Super Member
If you have a welder (or a friend with one) do yourself a favor. Go to the hardware store and pick up a couple of stainless bolts, nuts, and washers. 1/4"-20 will work. Take a grinder and remove any paint and rust near every place a wire grounds to the frame and weld (mig works great) the head of the bolt to the steel.
Paint the weld and the bare steel on the frame but not the threads of the bolt. I would put one were the 7 pin plug grounds on the trailer, where the brakes ground to the frame, and anywhere a light grounds. Once you do this the only problem you'll ever have with grounds is the connection between the truck and trailer.
Paint the weld and the bare steel on the frame but not the threads of the bolt. I would put one were the 7 pin plug grounds on the trailer, where the brakes ground to the frame, and anywhere a light grounds. Once you do this the only problem you'll ever have with grounds is the connection between the truck and trailer.
I see what you mean now but if it were me, I wouldn't run a ground strap like you propose because it would still be prone to corrosion, regardless of how many points of contact it had.
A separate ground wire, attached to everything that needs a ground, is a much more reliable solution. IMO
