Ground Inspection

WHY INSPECT GROUND CONNECTIONS

Ground connections are very important to the proper operation of electrical and electronic circuits. They are often exposed to moisture and can get a corrosive film of rust on the exposed metal.

A loose or corroded ground can alter a circuit. Many computer controlled circuits operate in the 5 volt range and can be seriously affected by a voltage change as low as one tenth (0.1V) of a volt. A poor or corroded ground can easily affect the circuit by that amount.

HOW TO INSPECT GROUND CONNECTIONS

^ Remove the ground bolt screw or clip.
^ Inspect all mating surfaces for tarnish, dirt, rust, etc.
^ Clean as required to assure good contact.
^ Reinstall bolt or screw securely.
^ Inspect for "add-on" accessories which may be interfering with the ground circuit.
^ If several wires are crimped into one ground eyelet terminal, check for proper crimps. Make sure all of the wires are clean, securely fastened and providing a good ground path.

VOLTAGE DROP TEST RESULTS

A good ground connection will have approximately 0.1 Volts or less voltage drop. For more details, refer to VOLTAGE DROP TESTS.