Jumper Ground Wire for Installing Lion LA080V2 Number Plate Lamp for Box Trailer

Question:

I have a Lion LA080V2 twin bulb number plate lamp that I need to install. However there are only 2 yellow wires coming out of the unit, one from each globe. Do I also need to connect an earth wire white to the unit? I suspect the manufacturer is relying on the metal casing and screws to earth the unit, but because I am installing it on the swing down tail gate of the trailer, I am concerned there may be insufficient earth contact with the trailer at certain times.

asked by: Peter H

Expert Reply:

Any time trailer lighting uses the mounting surface for ground you can run into issues if there is not a consistent reliable ground connection due to paint, primer or corrosion. Aluminum trailers and trailers with folding tongues can also have this issue. Using a ground jumper wire is a great fix. You can connect the wire to one of the light's mounting screws and route it to a suitable grounding point on the trailer frame, or all the way back to the main wiring harness ground if you prefer.

Using dielectric grease like # 11755 will help protect the new grounding point from corrosion.

expert reply by: Adam R