One for the electrical gurus
Ok driving up the coast last night my spotties gave up the ghost halfway on the trip, wasn't happy as it's a roo infested road at times and like all the light I can get.
Anyway took a look under the hood today and found the fuse for them, it was basically melted but not blown. I pulled it out had a good look and plugged it back in, the spotties worked again but I could feel the plastic fuse body getting hot so have pulled it out until a remedy.
It's strange as I've run these spotties heaps of times and for more than 2 hour stints along Gnarloo track.
It's 40 amp and the wiring looks heavy enough but I'm no expert.
It's running two Narva LED spotties and a light light bar.
Will more than likely get an auto sparky to look at it but keen for some thoughts on here.
Cheers
Love the West!
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18025
Date Joined: 11/03/08
Could be a relay switch. I
Could be a relay switch. I know the one in my Ute does similar but cuts out all lights
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
scotto
Posts: 2470
Date Joined: 21/04/08
Most probably
Undersized wiring in the harness. The leds do draw serious power. I was one of the first to get led spotties years ago, and had the exact same problem as you Andy. Melted fuses, but not always tripping/blowing. The supplier gave me a bigger gauge wiring harness, but still the same problem. I fixed it with a 30amp circuit breaker in lieu of the fuse/holder.
sea-kem
Posts: 14967
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Thanks mate, that sounds
Thanks mate, that sounds logical to me. Pissed me off last night halfway up the highway. My eyesight's not that great at night these days either.
Love the West!
scotto
Posts: 2470
Date Joined: 21/04/08
same here
it was a pain in the arse as hilux's are negative switched, and trying to hook these spotties up was a absolute head-fuck! once I figured it out, i then found out the wiring was too small guage for such a big power draw, and had to re-do the whole lot with a bigger harness.... and for the same result! melted 30amp fuses and fuse holder. the 30amp circuit breaker did the job, and for some reason I never had anymore trip outs after i installed it.
also for the record, I went back to HID lights (narva). they are a much lower power draw, cooler, and certainly have more long distance punch. the biggest difference though, was the Kelvin/temp/colour range on the HIDs. the LED's reflected the big road signs too much for my liking. i'd have to squint as I drove past any sign, as the reflection was too bright. I opted for a lower Kelvin temperature/yellower light on the HID's, and dont have nearly as much a problem. yes they take approx 5-10 seconds to completely warm up, but they are a better driving light overall in my opinion.
eziliving
Posts: 875
Date Joined: 30/12/09
Yep LEDs make my eyes tired
Yep LEDs make my eyes tired and sore. HIDs for me as I prefer to drive at night on long trips.
Get busy living, or get busy dying!
groverwa
Posts: 286
Date Joined: 21/07/14
Heat sensing
Heat sensing/ infrared scanners are available to check for faulty joints and can save vehicle and house fires and are relatively cheap. Some use a LED display nowadays and the ones I bought for Telstra used a display of individual LEDS in a sliding type display and the use was part of standard maintenance procedure. Also using a digital voltmeter and checking voltdrop across terminals and fuses can indicate dry or faulty items. If you are in business you most probably can write of to tax.
scubafish
Posts: 962
Date Joined: 15/08/12
Check gauge
https://www.bluesea.com/support/articles/Circuit_Protection/1437/Part_1%3A_Choosing_the_Correct_Wire_Size_for_a_DC_Circuit
http://img.gg/BQ91Sys
bsir
Posts: 574
Date Joined: 24/04/11
Contacts
Gday Andy, bad contacts on the fuse holder, either where the fuse plus in, or where the wire is connected to the fuse holder would lead to a hot fuse.
Subaquatic
Posts: 514
Date Joined: 23/04/11
Agreed, sounds like a hot
Agreed, sounds like a hot joint
sea-kem
Posts: 14967
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Thanks Blair, will have a
Thanks Blair, will have a real good look at it. Might buy a new one and see what happens. Mate we still need to catch up with you and Paul for beers, discuss tactics
And my jocks selection for next year lol
Love the West!
bsir
Posts: 574
Date Joined: 24/04/11
Jocks
Maybe just wear clean jocks this time Andy!
Jackalchub
Posts: 599
Date Joined: 10/03/12
If it's been fine for some
If it's been fine for some time and suddenly failed it definitely a high resistance (hot) joint, can happen with fuse holders
Jackalchub
Posts: 599
Date Joined: 10/03/12
If it's been fine for some
If it's been fine for some time and suddenly failed its definitely a high resistance (hot) joint, can happen with fuse holders