Getting ground from pop top hinges, will it work?

[shagginwagon83]

I'm running power to the pop top for lightning (perimeter and led strips).

I'm using marine 14/3 triplex. Long story short I just need ground up there.

On a pop top, do you think the rear hinges would be a good place to get ground? Does anyone know what the hinges are made of? Or does anyone have any other recommendations?

I may have to run a separate cable.
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan

[Jeffrey Lee]

[PDXWesty]

All you need is a multi meter to test for continuity and a good ground. Surely you have one of those.
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto

[shagginwagon83]

Lighting! I'm on my phone and it auto corrected. It is raining outside and I can't pop my top right now. I'll get the multimeter out and give it a shot.

I found some marine 14awg wire so worst case scenario I'll just run it from inside the van.
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan

[[email protected]]

Don't see why not

[MarkWard]

Ideally you’d use on of the bolts that secures the hinge to the sheetmetal
roof skin. The factory used some sealer where the bolts attached, so you’d probably want to clean the threads bolt and hole to ensure good connections.
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[mikemtnbike]

[E1]

Brandon, IIRC correctly you have Jack Bombay lifters. I'd think a good ground could be found on a Bombay mounting arm/plate.

Rubber washers unknown... on our '84, the factory mounting bolts used some black silicone to seal them but I don't think there's any other rubber involved.
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‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[dobryan]

If I wanted a ground point I'd look at the screw/bolt that holds down the H bar.
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

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[RawUmber]

If your lighting is isolated from any other circuits (ie, only connected to the +/- leads) and your 'hinge ground' provides enough current, the 'hinge ground' doesn't need to perfectly match battery ground so long as the voltage differential is enough to power your lighting (eg: given 12v lighting, a 13v +supply and 1v ground still yields 12v).

That said, if you have a perfect ground option, use it. It will have a greater voltage differential as your battery drains.

[shagginwagon83]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I have the GoWesty lifters. I could use that but I want it to be towards the rear/hidden.

Yes ideally remove one of the bolts on the bottom pop top hinge and get ground there.

It's crunch time. Like I said I've been taking pictures as I go but I can't wait to show you guys what I've done. However It won't be until after High County bus festival before I can post photos
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan

[MarkWard]

I don’t recall any rubber washers on the two tops I have removed. Only some sealer.
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[Dampcamper]

If you wanted to be sure and have a good ground you could make a flexible jumper from top to bottom of the hinge. Maybe a little braid from a piece of coaxial cable (like CB antenna coax, not the stuff used for cable TV) with crimp lugs at each end. Dress it so it has a gentle flex when the roof opens.
Same idea as the transmission ground strap but a lot smaller.