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Securing Ground Braid

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 4:33 pm
by JohnH
So working on a project Viking. Story is a previous owner did a playfield swap but was never able to get it working.

Among the really questionable things that were done (used rubbers, playfield posts caked with wax, etc.) is them having used thumb tacks instead of staples for the ground braid and some of the light sockets (I am not kidding...).
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So what kinds of staples & stapler are needed to do this right? Is there any place that rents them? I have a compressor that should be sufficient.

Suspecting that since the playfield is populated, this is going to be a major PITA.

Re: Securing Ground Braid

Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2020 11:54 am
by Hilton
https://www.amazon.com/Unicatch-USC71-1 ... B004WOKWGW

long nose type 71 staple gun

Just one example linked that would work.

Re: Securing Ground Braid

Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2020 1:20 pm
by JohnH
Thanks for the info.

Re: Securing Ground Braid

Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2020 9:34 am
by Eric_S
Rather than bare ground braid, consider using solder terminals. Use insulated wire to on one end and sandwich the terminal between the screw and lamp socket. The insulated wires can be daisy chained lamp to lamp. It isn't original, but a few benefits that include making it easier to replace lamp sockets and insulated wire help prevent accidental shorts.

https://www.digikey.com/products/en/con ... ectors/401

Re: Securing Ground Braid

Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2020 9:51 am
by JohnH
I had already considered the idea of insulated wire but using lugs is a great idea, thanks!

Re: Securing Ground Braid

Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2020 10:21 am
by Hilton
Eric_S wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2020 9:34 am Rather than bare ground braid, consider using solder terminals. Use insulated wire to on one end and sandwich the terminal between the screw and lamp socket. The insulated wires can be daisy chained lamp to lamp. It isn't original, but a few benefits that include making it easier to replace lamp sockets and insulated wire help prevent accidental shorts.

https://www.digikey.com/products/en/con ... ectors/401
Great idea! Esp since you could make up a bunch of lengths on the bench and then weave them in to install on the already repopulated pf.