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09-17-2016, 07:25 AM | #1 |
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Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
I have the fuse on the starter and have just started blowing the fuse ???? I checked all connections [for tightness] and now wonder where or how to isolate the short.........I do not want to use the copper buss and watch for the smoke!! I am running a FS ingnition [in distributer] and a 6 volt pos ground alternator..... how can I test ampmeter , coil etc ............thanks for all your help ... bobbycoke
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09-17-2016, 07:40 AM | #2 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
May not be the same but, one time when I was setting the timing I left the key in the on position overnight. That cooked the coil without me noticing. Next day my fuze kept blowing. I could not find the problem, so I did the unthinkable(tinfoil fuze) smoke came from distributor. Thankfully it only cooked the points.
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09-17-2016, 07:50 AM | #3 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
Try disconnecting the headlight circuit and try fuse again.
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09-17-2016, 07:53 AM | #4 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
check to see that no connections came loose in your light switch.
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09-17-2016, 11:02 AM | #5 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
Not to sound too simplistic but, what size fuse are you using?
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09-17-2016, 11:56 AM | #6 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
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09-17-2016, 06:55 PM | #7 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
Is this a new fuse install?
If so be sure you have the fuse block wired so the starter current does NOT flow through the fuse. This miss wiring has happened a couple times. |
09-17-2016, 07:53 PM | #8 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
Tom,It is not a new fuse block, had ran the old fuse for years........itsa31 -20 amp fuse...tomorrow I will disconnect the alternator,lighting circuit this will help me locate it I hope ,it is just when I have a mechanical problem no sweat, but those electron and protons make my head hurt, and my eyes glaze over I do not know why as I understand electrical theory and such but I guess I lack the confidence in it.......I have a new coil so I will swap that out if it indicates it is in the primary ignition circuit .....I need to buy more fuses any one know a wholesaler !!!!!!.......bobbycoke
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09-17-2016, 08:27 PM | #9 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
Put an in-line ammeter on it and start isolating circuits. DON"T just start throwing parts at it, you'll soon have multiple problems. Use the diagram given above and remove the different branches and check current draw on each one. Its not hard, just takes some logical thought and a little time.
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09-17-2016, 08:30 PM | #10 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
Or just use a resettable circuit breaker along with a testlight so your not blowing up a bunch of fuses.
Most volt meters have an OHMS scale which can prove out a circuit for resistance /short |
09-17-2016, 08:49 PM | #11 | |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
Quote:
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09-17-2016, 09:28 PM | #12 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
Before removing the coil, there is a very easy way to test the amps it draws. Just stop the engine with the points open (or slip paper between the contacts) then turn the key on and connect an ammeter between the points contacts. It should draw about 4 amps.
Actually it gets even easier than that. Just leave the key off and connect your ammeter between the red coil wire terminal and a ground. This will complete the coil circuit and show the amp draw. |
09-18-2016, 08:56 AM | #13 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
The brake light switch has been known to short out internally. A quick place to check, just remove the wire.
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09-18-2016, 09:22 AM | #14 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
#2 has a novel way to trouble shoot....create a dead short and wait for something to smoke or catch fire.
Many of us are running a 30 amp fuse. Cannot tell from your response just what fuse size you have... "31 -20 amp fuse" with a test light or a VOM you can find your problem pretty quickly. As was mentioned, the headlight circuit is known for problems
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09-18-2016, 09:37 AM | #15 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
By finding out what it isn't you find out what it is. As others have stated start with headlights then move to horn then move to brake light switch and so on. I haven't heard if anything has changed on the car. Good Luck!
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09-18-2016, 09:57 AM | #16 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
Make yourself a test light which is a small bulb for the voltage you have in the vehicle, Attach alligator clips with wires to the bulb then connect this across the fuse holder. Start removing wires for the alternator, headlights, horn, brake, etc. When the light goes out, you have found the short.
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09-18-2016, 10:23 AM | #17 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
that may be the easiest testing in the world!
use the short to light the bulb
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09-18-2016, 02:59 PM | #18 | |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
Quote:
I told the students to use a bulb or resistor and flasher in series connected to the fuse terminals. Then Move an inductive ammeter (or even an ordinary compass) along the suspect wiring harness and watch the needle move each time the flasher passes current. When the needle stops moving then they have just passed the short. |
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09-18-2016, 06:36 PM | #19 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
Tom, you are just such a wild guy, using logic and all like that stuff
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09-18-2016, 09:56 PM | #20 | |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
Quote:
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09-19-2016, 03:57 AM | #21 | ||
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
Quote:
Quote:
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09-19-2016, 10:00 AM | #22 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
Mitch do you have a photo of the circuit breaker and a inductive meter that you are using?
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09-19-2016, 11:43 AM | #23 | |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
Quote:
Second pic is my fancy power probe short finder... This powers the circuit then you use the receiver to run along the harness till you find the short.. The beauty of this is you don't have to remove things to locate as the receiver can hear through rugs, moldings etc..... Last edited by Mitch//pa; 09-19-2016 at 12:18 PM. |
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09-19-2016, 12:06 PM | #24 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
I've been following this thread waiting for someone else with a female Model A like Elizabeth and Sarah............
Just give her a slap or two............... Cheers, Male chauvinist pig!!!!!
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09-19-2016, 12:51 PM | #25 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
Mitch you are having waaay too much fun with real tools while the rest of us limp along with stuff whittled from old wood fenceposts
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09-19-2016, 07:55 PM | #26 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
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09-19-2016, 08:44 PM | #27 | |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
Quote:
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09-19-2016, 11:03 PM | #28 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
20 prolly won't work
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09-20-2016, 07:41 AM | #29 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
If anyone want one, I can sell you a box of 30 amp fuses for $5. PM me if interested,
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09-20-2016, 04:53 PM | #30 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
Here’s my short circuit story. Just a few days ago my 1930 fordor stopped dead on the highway. It has 2K miles on a complete restoration and has been owned by me since 1956. Lots of trips with “adventures” but never before has this car left me totally disabled on the road. It happened after passing thru a brief but intense rain squall. After numerous roadside checks I could not find the short so with darkness near I used my auto club towing service for the first time ever. No fun, but the operator acted like he towed 80+ year old cars every day.
I needed two days to sleuth out the problem with a multimeter, wiring diagrams, and expert interstate advice. Just about everything got checked. The flaw turned out to be in what you’d least expect – the one part intended to protect all the rest from short circuits. My fuse holder is a recent item from a parts house (can’t remember which one). It has a badly flawed design and differs from others I have seen. The car wiring end, not the battery connection end, has a bolt fastened thru the sheet metal bracket and the actual fuse holder. See the photo. Three small plastic washers insulate the bolt and first nut from the sheet metal. Less than 1/32 inch clearance is there between the bolt head and the nut sides and the bracket. Somehow moisture, a small amount of corrosion, dirty engine compartment dust or crud, or something shorted this fastener to the bracket and thus the car. When wiring was disassembled for checks the short was not observed. Upon reassembly the fuse would blow. This bolt and insulator design is just a temptation to Murphy’s law. All of us using a fuse device should check for this flaw. It’s easy to fix. Just cut off part of the bracket with the bolt mounting hole and fasten the bolt and car wiring only to the actual fuse holder, itself. Good Luck, Rancho |
09-20-2016, 05:04 PM | #31 |
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Re: Miss Elizabeth popping her fuse !
My '31 is running 20A, and so is Miss Elizabeth. No Problem.
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