Actually, an ohmmeter is hard to use in this application (unless you have an
old analog one with a zero adjust), because usually the resistance is just
barely high enough to make things flakey, and it doesn't show up well on an
ohmmeter. As an example, my digital ohmmeter always shows one ohm or so even
when the leads are shorted directly together. So I have to keep that in
mind, and assume that it's accurate to within an ohm, too, when doing this
stuff. If I had a one-ohm error in the resistance and I'm trying to run a
headlight (5 amps) then there could be a 5V drop across that faulty
connection.
Use the volts setting, turn on what you're trying to fix, and measure the
voltage at each of the terminals. Typically, you should only ever see 12
volts (the battery voltage) or 0 volts, at any point in the electrical
system. If you see any other value then there's a bad ground at work.
There are exceptions: the instruments run off of 10 volts, and the sender
connections can be any value between 0 and 10 volts.
Good luck,
Theo
-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Laifman [mailto:Laifman@flash.net]
Sent: Monday, June 26, 2000 11:10 AM
To: Hal436@aol.com
Cc: Tiger's Den
Subject: Re: Wire gauge
Hal436@aol.com wrote:
> I mentioned the fact that my
> panel lights were not too bright and he mentioned that that was caused by
> the fact that Sunbeam cars were not grounded too well. He said that he
> overcame this problem by double grounding all of the panel gauges.
>
> Question: I want to test this and would like to know if lamp wire (16/18
> gauge) will be adequate for the test ?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> Hal Jean
Hal,
He does have a good point, and age does not help grounding, but you do not
have
to do all that much work. The wire gauge is perfectly satisfactory for
carrying
the currents required, and need not be changed. "Double" grounding,
depending
upon what he means, is not required. What is required is that the grounding
daisy chain be thoroughly examined and repaired, as necessary. First, the
light power input wires should be examined to assure no breaks in
insulation,
or wires, and clean contacts at termination points. Junctions should be
secure
and insulated. The daisy chain ground should be examined as well. Again,
all
contacts should be clean and all grounds examined for conductivity. Paint,
rust and other corrosion can have built up.
A good ohm-meter will determine adequate grounding contact.
This is true of your exterior lights as well, both tail, head, and front are
grounded to the frame by sometimes corroded or painted junctions.
Steve
--
Steve Laifman < Find out what is most >
B9472289 < important in your life >
< and don't let it get away!>
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