#4. I hear a lot about “grounding” and how it can be a problem. What is grounding and why is it so often a problem?
For electricity to flow properly, it must complete a full circuit (think circle) from the battery (+) through the wires, switch, load, etc. and return back to the battery (-). If that circuit is broken at any point, or even if any point has excessive resistance, the flow is interrupted or compromised. For convenience in wiring, the frame and body are often used as part of that circuit which connects to the battery (-) post. “Grounding” then is simply a connection, usually to the body or frame that acts to complete the circuit back to the battery (-).
Frequently, these grounding connections might be done by putting a ring terminal under a bolt or screw and a variety of potential problems exist. For good electrical flow all of the contacts must be clean metal. Rust, paint, dirt, and grease, for example, all add resistance to the connection that reduces the flow by creating a voltage drop. In minor cases, you might see one taillight that isn’t as bright as the other or a different turn signal flash rate from one side to the other. In severe cases, a bad ground can completely prevent operation.
#5. I had a buddy send his car to the paint shop and, afterwards, almost nothing in his car worked right. Could that be a ground problem?
Absolutely! We’ve heard it many times. The painter disconnects grounds to get a primo paint job and then reconnects them without thinking about removing his new paint to get good metal-to-metal contact.
(We'll look at a couple more grounding questions in our next blog entry.)
Steve Watson, Watson's StreetWorks, http://www.watsons-streetworks.com
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