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Re: converting radio to pos gnd

To: "Zempel, David W" <david.w.zempel@lmco.com>, "'triumphs list'" <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: converting radio to pos gnd
From: Trevor Jordan <tjordan@vic.bigpond.net.au>
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 1999 12:25:45 +1100
At 10:56 AM +1100 3/3/99, Zempel, David W wrote:
>Does anybody have any notes on converting a negative ground TR radio to
>positive ground?  My '63 TR4 came with a POC aftermarket radio which I
>removed when I started my restoration 18 years ago.  I've since obtained a
>real Triumph radio (negative ground) that I hope to convert.

It would be very dificult to convert a radio internally.  One solution is
to completely insulate the frame of the radio so that the polarity of the
radio is no longer important.  The ground wire can then be connected to the
battery and the battery wire to the ground.  However, it is not easy to
insulate a large lump of metal like a radio; particularly when it has to be
solidly mounted to the dash.  The frame would still be positive and it
becomes a potential source of short circuits in a negative ground
environment.

I would suggest that it is simpler to convert the car to negative ground.
This has the added benefit of eliminating the problem forever.

As far as originality is concerned, if you have a real Triumph radio with
negative ground, it probably came from a later model.  If you want to keep
the car original, try to find an earlier positive ground radio (or
reproduction).

Trevor Jordan
74 TR6 CF29281U

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