Date:         Sat, 17 Apr 1999 13:24:39 -0700
Reply-To:     harald_nancy <harald_nancy@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         harald_nancy <harald_nancy@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: A/C HOT wires!!
Comments: To: Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Bill,
I found a similar situation on my vanagon when I
opened the cover to take some measurements to
help another listmember.
I guess the first logical solution is to clean the
contacts real good, and coat them with a corrosion
inhibitor from an electronics shop.
But a second look at that single 50 amp fuse,
and I decided to replace the whole thing.
I went to a boating store, and I found a marine
type 4 gang fuse block made by Cole Hersee Co.
(around 6 bucks).
Widened 2 holes on the new fuse block to match
those 2 screws that hold the original 50 amp fuse in place.
Now I fastened the new fuse block in the same place
where the original 50 amp fuse used to be.
Fastened the big wire that comes from the alternator
to the solid brass bus bar of the new fuse block.
Connected the one 4 mm and the two 2.5 mm wires
on the other end of the new fuse block.
I put in a 35 amp Buss (brand name) fuse for the 4 mm wire
(that's for the two rear a/c blowers on speed 4 only),
and two 20 amp fuses for each of the two 2.5 mm wires.
Wires don't get so hot anymore, at least in that area.
Setup seems to work ok so far.
Harald
'90 westy

----------
> From: Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: A/C HOT wires!!
> Date: Saturday, April 17, 1999 9:22 AM
>
> Okay. I found my 50 amp A/C fuse and relays.
> But the wires get so hot that I can only hold the large red one for about
a
> second before it is too painful. Nothing looks fried, but these hot wires
do
> not seem right to me. From a quick glance at the archives it seems I am
not
> the only one with these hot A/C wires. I think I also remember some posts
> that report that fires have started here. The one solution that I found
> there suggested replacing the wire connectors on the theory that a small
> amount of corrosion inside the connectors would cause this heating of the
> wires. Any other suggestions?
> Thanks
> Bill
> 90 Westy Syncro