Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2002 23:56:49 +0100
Reply-To: Robert Steven Fish <fish@SALZBURG.CO.AT>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Robert Steven Fish <fish@SALZBURG.CO.AT>
Subject: Re: WARNING: Lighting upgrade hazard
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
If everything is fused correctly, you should not have an issue with an
"overload" of any circuit, due to the use of the headlights... or a
combination of devices drawing power.
Generally you would have all of your battery to relay cables fused in a
"fusable link" perhaps hidden under the front seat or somewhere. These with
30 amp fuses should do the job. The you need to have another fuse on your
main feed, which comes off the battery positive terminal, and feeds all the
lights/relays/etc. This fuse could be higher amperage... mine is a 50 amp I
believe.
It is just a safety in case something crazy happens (like insulation rubs
off a wire and touches the body). At 50 amps, it should also blow before
any of the larger wires meltdown.
Your heaters are fused too.... as is your radio, and your amp, and your
subwoofers etc.
Any component which has a problem will blow its fuse (unless you have a
paperclip, or a glass fuse wrapped in aluminum foil in there) before major
damage is done.
Something else happened here... and one list members conclusion that the
wiring between teh alternator and the batery somehow grounded out on the
body is very likely. If I remember correctly, the cable from the batery to
the alternator is like the thickness of my index finger... and it will NOT
MELT before a fuse.
Also, the image which you label as "is this a coolant line" is a fuel line.
I personally would NOT drive the vehicle... or start it. You need to go
back to square one, and start tracing wires back, and replacing either
entire harnesses or individual cable runs. You should also replace all the
coolant lines and fuel lines too.
I do not envy you... the images you show are really depressing. Very lucky
that there was no fire!!
If you ever find out what the cause really was... please post it to the
list, as I am certain that there are many folks as curious as I am to know
what caused this.
Good Luck!
RSF
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Robert S. Fish
Salzburg, Austria
1987 Wolfsburg Vanagon 2.1 GL Weekender
1987 Golf Cabriolet
1991 Golf
