Earth to forum

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Greeney
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Location: Limousin France

Sorry couldnt resist that. EARTH Points!! It may sound like a stupid question but after checking most of the earth points I have basically found rusty screws If I replace them with Stainless Steel as I have done with every external screw already are they going to be ok as an earth conductor. S/S doesnt contain something that makes a bad conductor or anything?

Rustbucket
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Re: Earth to forum

Hi Nicholas, Your stainless screws will be o.k. Earth connections should be direct contact ( clean both surfaces ), the screws purpose is only to hold them together. I too am a stainless freek but still apply a liberal coat of threadguard as the female thread is still mild steel and can sieze up your nice shiny screws. Brass screws are another alternative. Chazz.

Greeney wrote:
Sorry couldnt resist that. EARTH Points!! It may sound like a stupid question but after checking most of the earth points I have basically found rusty screws If I replace them with Stainless Steel as I have done with every external screw already are they going to be ok as an earth conductor. S/S doesnt contain something that makes a bad conductor or anything?

Greeney
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Location: Limousin France
Ta

Thanks, obviously not so rusty, rustbucket

Russ280
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Stainless Connections

As Chazz says stainless is great for making electrical connections.

However cleaning connections is vitally important, especially on heavy current items like starter motors / alternators etc. Polish the surfaces and immediately clamp them together. Even copper left open to the atmosphere will form a surface film within minutes, which greatly increases the subsequent connection resistance. Once clamped together seal with some sort of sealant E.G grease, paint, waxoyl.

Russ

Greeney
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Thanks all

I do have a few problems earthing at the moment too so when I get a minute i am going over as many as i can find. My temp and fuel gauges react to the indicators and wipers. and when my kenlowe fan comes on the temperature gauge shows hotter temp.

Russ280
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Connections

Forgot to mention, if the connection is tinned (copper covered in tin) try not to remove the tin when cleaning.
Copper connected directly to steel or aluminium alloy will react and create a high resistance joint in a very short time. Tin is reasonably inert and will not react with dissimilar metals.

Russ

Rustbucket
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Re: Thanks all

Nicholas, When I first got my G the fuel gauge had a mind of it's own so I checked the connections at the sender unit and they were well corroded. After cleaning up the gauge now reads true. A usefull tool for this is a little fiberglass contact cleaning brush ( don't know the correct name for it but think Russ will? ) Just lift the carpet above the tank where you will find a round cover, it's under this if I remember correctly. Russ is spot on with his connection tips as poor connections are a nightmare in anything and sometimes take a long time to locate ( in my case anyway ). Another wee tip if you have lost the coating on a terminal end and you can get to it with a soldering iron is to 'tin' it with solder. Even the bare ends of wire will benefit from this. Parts must of course be spotlessly clean before attempting to solder.

Greeney wrote:
I do have a few problems earthing at the moment too so when I get a minute i am going over as many as i can find. My temp and fuel gauges react to the indicators and wipers. and when my kenlowe fan comes on the temperature gauge shows hotter temp.

Rustbucket
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Joined: 17.12.2003
Location: Penicuik, Scotland.
Re: Earth to forum

Nicholas, Probably just stating the obvious but do not replace High Tensile bolts / screws with stainless alternatives i. e. shock absorber mounting bolts, unless specifically recommended by manufacturer. Ordinary stainless will let you down ( metal fatigue ). Chazz.

Greeney wrote:
Sorry couldnt resist that. EARTH Points!! It may sound like a stupid question but after checking most of the earth points I have basically found rusty screws If I replace them with Stainless Steel as I have done with every external screw already are they going to be ok as an earth conductor. S/S doesnt contain something that makes a bad conductor or anything?

Greeney
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Joined: 04.11.2003
Location: Limousin France
Tinning

Thanks for all that help the tinning sounds like a good idea I have soldering iron etc.
I have a little suede cleaning brush I use for terminals usually.
Its not just the fuel gauge If I put on the hazards all dials flick in tune.
I did realise about high tensile and SS thanks too as I done pretty much the same to my 64 Jag