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Electrical for Dummies

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DNK said:
Best way to learn the art of Lucas devil worship is to rewire a car.
Click to expand...

<span style="color: #990000">I have to agree with Don.

I know almost nothing about auto mechanics and even less about
auto electronics. My car was so bodged up by the DPO I had no choice
but to gut all the wires and start over.

I purchased the Dan Masters book and also his entire car wire harness
the PowerBlock. It took me 5 months to install, many chats with Dan,
a site visit from his son Mike (RIP) but I now know the wire system
of my TR6 inside and out.

I still know zip about auto mechanics but I could rewire a TR6
if I had too. Helps me diagnose some of the many problems my car
constantly presents to me.

Rewire yer car! if a dummie like Dale can do it, anyone can!!

regards,

dale</span>
 
Rewire??

BAH!

Baby/bathwater!!!

Chase the electrons, find the fault(s). Only case for a rewire would be catastrophic fire damage or great chunks cut out of the loom and all replaced with the same color wire.

Where's th' sense of adventure?!?! :devilgrin:

Hey, I know replacing the harness is a project but I've this "thing" about English wiring... It WORKS if it hasn't been corrupted with ScotchLoks or pig-tailed by twisting two bare copper ends together to make a semi-mechanical connection. It can usually be put right with solder and good workmanlike practices.

It's a pet peeve, I'm Nomex'd up. Flame away.
 
No flames from me, Doc, I entirely agree.
 
Sorry, just trying to avoid this:
fire05.jpg
 
TR6oldtimer said:
Does he discuss hole flow?
Click to expand...
hole flow? these are the things that keep me up at night. what isit? is it a legal practice? is it fun? does it hurt? i got the meter but it's not on it.
 
Doc, I was not aware you ever saw the DPO wiring in my car.

You wrote <span style="color: #990000">"or great chunks cut out of the loom and all replaced with the same color wire. "</span>

The DPO of my car used mostly black wire and stereo
speaker wires. Nothing electrical functioned except
the engine itself. Great chunks of the wire harness
had been chopped out.

d
 
Tinster said:
Doc, I was not aware you ever saw the DPO wiring in my car.
Click to expand...

Characteristic DPO behaviour, no car-specific knowleedge needed.

Every DPO uses speaker wire at least once- its handy and cheap; and the ideal temporary fix that never gets sorted out properly until it melts under load... most probably while the next poor sap who's bought it, and then gets to figure it all out, or not... :devilgrin: :jester:
 
Yowza Don,

that'd ruin your day.

I've been into one of them, and I'm trying to remember, was the fuel on that side, or was that all electrical. From the busted windshield the fire had to have been hot enough that it almost looks like the electrical fire burnt through the fuel line and the pump kept running.

Is it salvageable, or did it get last rites.
 
While I'm at it,
Actually Doc, I have 5 or 6 different meters to use, depending on what I am chasing. It gets fun when you do 480 volt three phase because then you have three goesinta's that are also the comesouta's.

For our LBC's I start with the test lite, it tells me 99%of what I need to know.

My biggest fuss with the wiring in these things is that they are EXTREMLY underfused. I have put fuse links in all the major circuits and a few of the minor ones so the harnes shouldn't melt down after a fault.
 
Have a look at Haynes book number H433 "Classic Car Electrical Systems Repair Manual", by Dave Pollard. An excellent overview of the basics (including safety), all the way to refurbishing a generator or alternator, starter motor, as well as common upgrades (headlights, horns, etc). Specifically focused on classics, primarily British.
 
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