Need some help, electrical issue

[RAC68]

Greg/Kurt,

My response was made to provide a little clarity regarding comments on the horn circuit and it is always left at your discursion. Basic circuitry requires that a “+” and “-“ be present for power to flow. Although you may not appreciate the ground side of the circuit, if a horn short is experienced and located within the steering column, it WILL create a power flow with the side of the column and likely sound the horn…at least for a brief time. However, since a sporadic connection will have been made with the shaft acting as the ground, it is also probable that a substantial amount of current will pass before the 35 amp fuse is blown. Additionally, this short can be the source of sparks and other that could affect the closely packed wires of your signal circuit. As a result, you can loose more than just the horn.

Since this issue does not hold a critical potential, you may choose to address this possibility in the future or never. As stated, my objective was only to clarify the circuit as it is always your choice to determine your actions.

Good luck,
Ray (64BJ8P1)

 

[Keoke]

Geeze, thats right. We were following some threads here and saw it fused down to 15 amp. Is that redundant? We can hold off on that one until were sure...

A 15 amp fuse is quite adequate for the horn because the duty cycle is low. However, it will need a SLOW BLOW type fuse

 

[kkaa]

On the relay location, I saw Rays but was wondering if we could tap the high beams off the blue-white and low beams off the blue-red at the dip switch in this diagram. That way I bring the relays under the dash. Is that possible?

 

[kkaa]

Guys, Update. We were able to get some pics of the work. Hopefully we did it correctly. We didnt end up using the Moss in-line set. The reason, the wire they have is 12 awg, and they dont sell the bullett ends for 12 awg wire! To to stay "plug and play" we went away from the soldering option and used these in-line options from Boss, made the ends and plugged in...Kicking myself for not using Andreas re-setting fuses!!!!

The OD in-line fuse has a light that indicates active or not and this weekend will put a tiny piece of double sided valcro on it and place under the steering column....

 

[GregW]

Does anyone know of a switch that can replace the panel light switch and do this? So, same size but be on - dash, off, or on all? Like this but the three functions?

I was thinking of #55 HERE

 

[GregW]

Although you may not appreciate the ground side of the circuit

I do.

if a horn short is experienced and located within the steering column, it WILL create a power flow with the side of the column and likely sound the horn…at least for a brief time. However, since a sporadic connection will have been made with the shaft acting as the ground, it is also probable that a substantial amount of current will pass before the 35 amp fuse is blown.

There is a difference between a ground wire touching ground and a hot wire touching ground. A ground touching ground completes a designed circuit. That circuit has a load in it (in this case, the horns) That load limits the amount of current that flows through the circuit. If you have an intermittent contact as you mentioned, that would create more resistance that would limit the current even further. At best, I think the horns would flow about 8 amps.