Printable Version | Subscribe | Add to Favourites
New Topic New Poll New Reply
Author: Subject: Burnt wiring
james h

posted on 23/3/09 at 02:13 PM Reply With Quote
Burnt wiring

I need a wiring expert here...

Is this connection enough to cause the damage in the following pictures?

Bad wiring connection?
Bad wiring connection?


Damage:

Burnt wire
Burnt wire


Burnt wire into loom
Burnt wire into loom


I got my car wired up by an autoelectrician a little while ago.
I had just got to the stage of starting the engine. I started to attach the battery, but when the second lead was attached to the battery there was a nasty 'fizzle' noise, and smoke. I immediately took one of the leads away, and looked at the damage, which you can see in the above pics.

If its not the connection to the thick brown wire (which seems to go to the ignition), then does anybody else have an idea what it could be?

Thanks,

James

p.s. not looking good for SVA now

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
tegwin

posted on 23/3/09 at 02:17 PM Reply With Quote
Wowza... looks like there has been a catastrophic short circuit there!!





------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Would the last person who leaves the country please switch off the lights and close the door!

www.verticalhorizonsmedia.tv

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
rayward

posted on 23/3/09 at 02:26 PM Reply With Quote
looks like the smaller (red wire) has a dead short to earth,

due to the fact the main battery cable + its fuse (if fitted possibly 200amps ish) are capable of carrying a lot more current than the smaller cable, the smaller wire has acted as a fuse itself

hth

Ray

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
james h

posted on 23/3/09 at 02:29 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by rayward
looks like the smaller (red wire) has a dead short to earth,

due to the fact the main battery cable + its fuse (if fitted possibly 200amps ish) are capable of carrying a lot more current than the smaller cable, the smaller wire has acted as a fuse itself

hth

Ray


So the smaller red wire is too thin then? Bah, I was so looking forward to getting the engine started!!

James

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
scotlad
Contributor






Posts 781
Registered 30/9/03
Location Edinburgh
Member Is Offline

Photo Archive Go!
Building: Built MK Indy Blade, RH 2b Zetec, rebuilding locos

posted on 23/3/09 at 02:30 PM Reply With Quote
EEK thats been a nasty short- lucky the lot didnt go up! Do you have a wiring diagram for it? I think it unlikely a connection would do it- more like a wire has been connected in the wrong place effectively putting a dead short on the battery. Its not been going through a fuse either to cause that amount of damage. i would suggest it needs a very thorough look at the way its wired i'm afraid





Wonderous is our great blue ship that sails around the mighty sun, and joy to everyone that rides along!

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
james h

posted on 23/3/09 at 02:39 PM Reply With Quote
It's not looking too good is it? Unfortunately I don't have a wiring diagram for it, I wasn't given one by the 'trician.

James

[Edited on 23/3/09 by james h]

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
tegwin

posted on 23/3/09 at 02:42 PM Reply With Quote
I would have a chat with him... he should sort it as he obviously has made a major cockup!





------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Would the last person who leaves the country please switch off the lights and close the door!

www.verticalhorizonsmedia.tv

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
Paul TigerB6

posted on 23/3/09 at 02:57 PM Reply With Quote
Yikes!!! Nice short there!! The brown wire will be a live feed - i think you will find it runs to the ignition from the starter motor where your main battery feed connects, and there is usually a bunch of brown wires running into your loom on a ring terminal.

As said - seems your electrician has messed up big time there so get him back






View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
Worzey

posted on 23/3/09 at 02:57 PM Reply With Quote
I know its stating the obvious but you did connect the battery the right way around?





Caterham R400

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
james h

posted on 23/3/09 at 03:03 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Worzey
I know its stating the obvious but you did connect the battery the right way around?


Yep, but I can see where you are coming from, I have done silly things like that before, but unfortunately thats not the case here!

James

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
rayward

posted on 23/3/09 at 04:02 PM Reply With Quote
the smaller red wire is probably the correct size in a "non fault" situation

the fact is you have what looks like a dead short to earth, the point of the fuse would be to blow before the cable melted

as said above, i would be on the phone to the guy who wired it

Ray

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
rusty nuts

posted on 23/3/09 at 07:08 PM Reply With Quote
Agreed, the electrician should sort it out if you haven't altered anything.
View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
james h

posted on 23/3/09 at 07:51 PM Reply With Quote
Yeah, I have gone nowhere near the wiring. Too scared!
View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member

New Topic New Poll New Reply


go to top






Website design and SEO by Studio Montage

All content © 2001-16 LocostBuilders. Reproduction prohibited
Opinions expressed in public posts are those of the author and do not necessarily represent
the views of other users or any member of the LocostBuilders team.
Running XMB 1.8 Partagium [© 2002 XMB Group] on Apache under CentOS Linux
Founded, built and operated by ChrisW.