Ground Connection Keeps Coming Loose on a Featherlite Trailer with LED Lights

Updated 03/02/2013 | Published 02/28/2013

Products Featured in This Question

Gray Bracket and Single Wire Plug for Thin Line Series Trailer Clearance and Side Marker Lights

(32)

$3.45

Loctite Blue Stick Threadlocker - Medium Strength - 1/4" to 3/4" Nut/Bolt - 0.32 Oz Stick

(16)

$14.55

Question:

I have a Featherlite trailer that uses LED marker lights mounted on brackets similar to your Optronics A-66PB Bracket. These brackets are riveted to the trailer body and the ground connection is made through these attachment points. The LED lights frequently go dead because the rivets loosen and the ground connection gets lost. Re-riveting the bracket fixes the problem temporarily until the rivets loosen up again. Screwing the bracket to the trailer lasts a bit longer but they also loosen over time, particularly since they are screwed into aluminum. Is there another way to establish the ground connection for these brackets that is more permanent?

asked by: Dudley

Helpful Expert Reply:

I recommend using screws like you have done but also using a ring terminal to sandwich a wire going form the mounting location to some nearby steel. Having a ground wire attached like this should solve the problem.

If running a wire is not feasible then I would still use screws but go ahead and use some blue Loctite, # LT37643, on the threads to keep them from loosening up.

Ideally you will want a ground connection to bare steel. But it sounds like when the connection is tight the aluminum is working well enough. Keeping the connection tight with the Loctite should be a big help.

expert reply by: Michael H