Date: Sun, 16 Feb 2014 10:53:25 -0800
Reply-To: Art Jury <kf7gd7@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Art Jury <kf7gd7@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: vanagon fire
In-Reply-To: <D491107A-9D09-4E41-8206-013734B9EEF2@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Thank you volks!
Yes I plan to add the highest wattage legal lights I can put in. I have
old eyes but I dont want to annoy other drivers or give a lawyer a reason
to sue me if there is a problem.
On Ebay you can find a pack of 10 Bosch relays (40amp) with pigtails for
$20, thats probably the route I will go, since your taxes paid for me to
learn how to crimp wires and stuff (thanks by the way) Ill probably make my
own harnesses.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-PACK-30-40-AMP-RELAY-HARNESS-SPDT-12V-BOSCH-STYLE-S-/160609101736?pt=Car_Audio_Video&hash=item25650c67a8&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10pc-12-VOLT-30-40-AMP-BOSCH-STYLE-RELAYS-SOCKETS-CAR-/380558336484?pt=US_Relays_Sensors&hash=item589b0b61e4
these are bosch style relays (copies) but the harnesses should be the same
if I have trouble Ill buy some real bosch and use these for some robotics
or something.
Thank you for the link, if possible I would recommend you avoid Radio Shack
when I was a boy they had good parts for not unreasonable prices but Ill be
50 this year and that was a long time ago. Better source would be an auto
parts store or marine store. (or online) Make sure you are getting sealed
relays preferably with sockets unless you are pretty good at soldering.
Heck Im pretty good at soldering and I prefer the sockets with the
pigtails. Also they are small carrying a spare is not a bad thing. Within
reason it is always good to exceed the load rating for relays (or switches)
so I like the 40 amp versions, when I pick my loads (lights etc) Ill check
the current to make sure Im within the limits. Exceeding it by a few amps
is probably not a big deal but it should cause the relay to wear out faster
of course faster might just mean 10 years instead of 30.
In the link a few folks were talking about tieing relays to wiring
harnesses. While I have done it and have seen it done on aircraft take a
look at what you are doing. I would put some relief around the wiring
harness to make sure you dont break a wire on the back side. Make sure the
harness is big enough and supported well enough to do the job! Leaving the
relay to bounce around is an experiment I am not interested in. Silicon
(self sealing) tape works well.
Wireing is fun, I hope to say the same about mechanic ing someday.
Art.
On Sun, Feb 16, 2014 at 9:20 AM, OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@comcast.net> wrote:
> Art
>
> I agree completely with your assessment of the ~ NewRelays Saving
> OldSwitches ~ LineOfThought ~
>
> Check out this link ~ scroll down to Waldemar Sikorskis Thu Jan 18, 2007
> 11:02 am Post ~
>
> http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=214519
>
> It worked great for me & I got my Relays @ RadioShack for under
> $6ea ~ These I believe
>
> http://tinyurl.com/kdmmz3a
>
> or
>
>
> http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3020762&CAWELAID=120125420000004946&catargetid=120125420000031799&cadevice=c&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CK-empiQ0bwCFQNufgodvSYAfg
>
> Mine reside on the small shelf that is created by the Bracket that
> attaches the SteeringColumn to the DashBoard ~ Do check out the Kits by Jay
> Brown "thatvwbusguy@comcast.net" as they are very
>
> Pro'Done & Priced Nice ~
>
>
> ORR ~ DeanB
> On 15 Feb , 2014, at 10:56 PM, Art Jury wrote:
>
> > Thank you for the advice I was wondering what hose to get and planning to
> > research it.
> >
> > I would disagree with this though. (#2 for me)
> >
> > When you have the switches on the dash board switching the relays instead
> > of the direct power you should end up switching a lot less current with
> the
> > 25 year old parts. Every time you switch a high current circuit (for
> > instance headlights) you wear out the switch a bit (think small lightning
> > bolt). I can buy 10 good quality relays for $20 (40 amp). If one
> fails I
> > can just plug another one in. Im sure Ill come up with something that
> > works, NASA let me wire and trouble shoot airplanes for 15 years.
> > Electrons I can chase. The mechanical bits make me scratch my head.
> Ill
> > try to post something when I come up with a solution and test it for a
> > while.
> >
> > #2 Check electrical lines, add fuse next to battery and put in relays for
> > the headlights (electrical fires bad as well also old eyes need more
> light).
> > Re-feeding the headlight switch from a direct battery supply instead of
> the
> > ignition switch will provide the same results as the relays. Consider
> > improving the current path from the alternator to the battery, and then
> the
> > dash board. While driving, the alternator, not the battery is your power
> > source. Don't just add fuses to the battery circuits. You need to know
> what
> > you're doing. You can't easily fuse the starter cable.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Sat, Feb 15, 2014 at 5:25 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com
> >wrote:
> >
> >> See comments below.
> >>
> >> Dennis
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of
> >> Art Jury
> >> Sent: Saturday, February 15, 2014 1:12 AM
> >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >> Subject: vanagon fire
> >>
> >> Tracing fuel lines is my next project, thanks for the advice!
> >>
> >> The plastic firstarter is not there, the PO had the engine rebuilt and
> >> claimed it was taken care of. Since he was a long time owner of
> vanagons
> >> (and had 2 burn on him) I think he is probably right but since it will
> be
> >> my
> >> fat in the fire Ill check it on my own.
> >>
> >> I messed up I usually ask for parts so I can fiddle with them but with
> the
> >> time crunch to get the new plates I did not this time.
> >>
> >> It was not a big expense in any case but I suspect it did not really fix
> >> the
> >> problem so I will make it my 3rd or 4th priority.
> >>
> >> #1 fuel lines
> >> Be sure to get good stuff. The original lasted 15 to 25 years in many
> >> cases.
> >> All the aftermarket stuff seems to need a 2 to 5 year replacement
> cycle. VW
> >> actually specifies a different hose for the fuel rail supply then other
> >> parts of the vehicle. They also changed the clamp design around 90 or
> so. I
> >> get the hose and the outer sleeve from them. Bel-Metric has the good
> >> squeeze
> >> (crimp) type hose clamps if you like those.
> >>
> >> #2 Check electrical lines, add fuse next to battery and put in relays
> for
> >> the headlights (electrical fires bad as well also old eyes need more
> >> light).
> >> Re-feeding the headlight switch from a direct battery supply instead of
> the
> >> ignition switch will provide the same results as the relays. Consider
> >> improving the current path from the alternator to the battery, and then
> the
> >> dash board. While driving, the alternator, not the battery is your power
> >> source. Don't just add fuses to the battery circuits. You need to know
> what
> >> you're doing. You can't easily fuse the starter cable.
> >>
> >> #3 Fix lose shifter gates, hard to find the gear, I have driven other
> >> vanagons and have a friend that has owned a few so I know it can be made
> >> better than it is.
> >> A proper adjustment can do wonders. Many shifting problems can be
> caused by
> >> transmission or clutch problems.
> >>
> >> # 4 make sure the engine is burning the fuel correctly, I dont know
> much
> >> about engines but incorect combustion can only be wasteful at best and
> >> dirty things up at worst. Fortunately in Washington state after 25
> years
> >> I no longer have to pass smog and with a 24 year old van that means I'm
> >> done.
> >>
> >> If you failed any states emissions test program you know you have a
> >> problem.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Somewhere between 3 and 4 I hope to make a trip or 2 with my family to
> >> enjoy
> >> the van.
> >>
> >> Thank you for the warm welcome volks!
> >>
> >> ARt.
> >>
> >> --
> >> The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not
> >> expect to sit. ~Nelson Henderson
> >>
> >> "You don't pay back, you pay forward." Robert A. Heinlein
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not
> > expect to sit. ~Nelson Henderson
> >
> > "You don't pay back, you pay forward." Robert A. Heinlein
>
>
--
The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not
expect to sit. ~Nelson Henderson
"You don't pay back, you pay forward." Robert A. Heinlein
| 
