Battery drain. What's wrong with this picture?

[SunSoaked]

I installed a nice new shiney courtesy light in my 85 that did not come with one. Purchased thru LMC. I also got the two wire harness because I needed the metal clips that snap into it that hold the bulb. After installing, I checked the wires with my multimeter before plugging in to the fuse panel. I'm an electronic mechanic by trade, so it's a habit of mine. I'm glad I did because I had direct shorts on both wires even with the bulb out. It wasn't obvious at first but I figured it out.
Amazing that they make this Chinese crap with such lack of common sense.
I fixed it but, what should have taken 30 minutes took me 2 hours.

[ACGUY71]

hate battery drain, have two trucks with that now. I am going to remove all the non factory crap off first, and diagnose from there. back up camera, phone chargers etc....

[SunSoaked]

I was waiting for someone to ask "what's wrong with the pic" as I asked.
Notice that it is chrome plated plastic. Chrome is conductive so how the hell do the metal clips attach without making the entire thing a short?
I had to use a dremel and some carbide bits/sanding rolls and needle files to grind the chrome off around the area where the socket clips attach.
Stupid oversight that is very time consuming.

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by SunSoaked

I was waiting for someone to ask "what's wrong with the pic" as I asked.
Notice that it is chrome plated plastic. Chrome is conductive so how the hell do the metal clips attach without making the entire thing a short?
I had to use a dremel and some carbide bits/sanding rolls and needle files to grind the chrome off around the area where the socket clips attach.
Stupid oversight that is very time consuming.

You could've made a gasket and placed it between them. I use old inner tubes for such things. Its lite and cuts easy

[SilverMiner]

I just spent the past few weeks chasing a battery drain on the courtesy lamp circuit, so I was very interested to see your post. I also have these fancy chromed LMC lamp housings - two in fact, because it is a Suburban.

I don't know about yours, but neither of mine were conductive at all. The "chrome" is just cheesy plastic unable to carry any current at all.

They work just fine and ultimately were not the source of any of my problems.

[SunSoaked]

Mine was definitely conductive. Verified with a meter sitting on my bench. And that cheesy chrome plateing extended down into the nooks and crannies where the metal clips snap in. As suggested above, there's no way any type of gasket would fix the issue. I just had to use a dremel and some needle files to get the plateing off. All is good.

[ACGUY71]

Originally Posted by SunSoaked

I was waiting for someone to ask "what's wrong with the pic" as I asked.
Notice that it is chrome plated plastic. Chrome is conductive so how the hell do the metal clips attach without making the entire thing a short?
I had to use a dremel and some carbide bits/sanding rolls and needle files to grind the chrome off around the area where the socket clips attach.
Stupid oversight that is very time consuming.

DON'T YOU KNOW, MINE WAS THE SAME WAY?? I just ordered a led puck bulb with leads. I am just going to remove the pins and hard wire. thanks for the heads up....

[Wgesnerjr]

you know what? I didn't even think about the silver coating when I installed the one I got from LMC. I just snapped the leads in and mounted it. installed the bulb and wired it up.

It been 6 months and I have not had an issue with shorting out. My guess is that the fuse would have blown if there was a problem.