65GS.com - Buick Gran Sport Enthusiasts!
Electrical => Electrical => Topic started by: elagache on May 25, 2017, 10:59:39 AM
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Rob Siegel, who is the author of the series of pieces on making your classic more reliable (http://65gs.com/board/index.php?topic=3437.0), is starting a new series on electrical systems on the Hagerty website. The first piece is on how a short circuit can literally burn your classic to the ground:
https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/Articles/2017/05/23/short-circuit-danger (https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/Articles/2017/05/23/short-circuit-danger)
If you aren't familiar with the physical laws of electricity is a very helpful explanation of why a short-circuit can do so much harm to your car. We are promised a second installment that discusses 5 common types of short circuits. Stay tuned!
Cheers, Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick electricians,
I was thinking about this article and the 14,400 watts of power that a short circuit releases. That's really hard to comprehend. Imagine the heat of around 10 toaster ovens all in one wire and that gives you a better idea of the power coming out as heat. Another way to think about this which is more "car guy" is to convert the power released into horsepower. 1 horsepower is 745.7 watts of power. If you do the math, a short circuit is releasing in heat a little over 19 horsepower!! Of course, one doesn't normally use horsepower to represent thermal power, but it gives you some idea of the amount of energy per unit time pouring out of those short-circuited wires!
If that doesn't give you more incentive to avoid short-circuits - I don't know what would!
Cheers, Edouard
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And a reminder.... Buick didn't put a fusible link on the main elec feed until 1967. Our 65 and 66's are more likely to have an electrical fire if something does short out.
It's easy to add a short fusible link at the main power feed (thick red wire) coming off of the horn relay/ junction block on the inner fender. Buy the fusible link at Napa, it already has a terminal on it for the junction block.
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Dear Walt and mid-60s Buick caregivers who value safety!
And a reminder.... Buick didn't put a fusible link on the main elec feed until 1967. Our 65 and 66's are more likely to have an electrical fire if something does short out.
It's easy to add a short fusible link at the main power feed (thick red wire) coming off of the horn relay/ junction block on the inner fender. Buy the fusible link at Napa, it already has a terminal on it for the junction block.
Thanks for the very good suggestion! :icon_thumright: This was something I wanted to look into!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Walt, do we have part number on the link from NAPA?
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Dear Glenn and mid-60s Buick electricians,
Walt, do we have part number on the link from NAPA?
Thanks for asking! I had the same question, but I feared the part was so obvious that asking would just make me embarrassed! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/embarrassed_blush.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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BEL 784696 fits the 3/8" stud of the junction block.
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BEL784696 (https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BEL784696)
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Dear Walt and mid-60s Buick electricians,
BEL 784696 fits the 3/8" stud of the junction block.
Thanks Walt for the part number! :icon_thumright:
I still haven't had time to check to see if my wagon needs this or not, but if it does you've simplified my life! - THANKS! :hello2:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14: