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Re: [TR] Positive Ground It Is!

To: Jeffrey Gayton <jtgayton@icloud.com>, triumphs@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [TR] Positive Ground It Is!
From: Randall <tr3driver@ca.rr.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 22:35:50 +0000
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Sensitivity: Normal 2014 22:35:50 +0000
---- Jeffrey Gayton <jtgayton@icloud.com> wrote: 

> But at Dave's suggestion, I took a closer look at the battery and found
> markings behind the posts. I've got a positive earth car! Thanks again for
> everyone's help. Now I can order some LED tail lights. 

Apologies if this is too obvious for words: Now would be the time to consider 
whether you want to stay opposite to the rest of the world or convert to 
negative ground.  We're fortunate to have Litezupp that makes positive ground 
LED bulbs; but the vast majority of aftermarket accessories are strictly 
negative ground.  Even just adding an outlet to charge your cell phone is extra 
hassle with positive ground.

I once saw a buddy burn up the wiring harness in his MGA, because it didn't 
occur to him that the CB radio he had borrowed had a (negative) ground path 
through the antenna clamp.  It worked at first, because the bumper bolts were 
too rusty to conduct.  So we were hundreds of miles from home when the one of 
the bolts rubbed through the rust and the cockpit filled with smoke rolling 
down the freeway.  You might say it made an impression on me!

The conversion from positive to negative ground is pretty trivial on the TR2-4. 
 Just swap the wires at the coil, ammeter and battery; then repolarize the 
generator.  If you forgot to swap at the coil, you'd probably never notice the 
difference.  And if you forget to swap at the ammeter, it just reads backwards.

Repolarizing the generator sounds scary, but it's trivial as well.  Just pull 
the wire off the 'F' terminal at the control box, and brush it against the 'A' 
terminal next to it.  You'll see some small sparks to tell you the connection 
was made.  Then put the wire back on 'F', close the hood and take a drive.

- Randall

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