My Vette Caught On Fire!
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,758
Likes: 4
From: Medford, Or
Re: My Vette Caught On Fire! (nastee383)
nastee383- Sorry about the fire. That would have made my heart skip a beat if I had seen my Shark in that condition. I hope the overall damage isn't serious!
Whenever I install a new wire harness I always fuse the circuit as well as install a fusible link . A fusible link will melt away(breaking the connection) if the fuse doesn't blow.
One other trick, I never use crimp spices on wire splices or connections, I always solder them. This way a short will cause the connections to act the same way a fusible link does.
For those who need a high quality Halotron or Chemical fire extinguishers,
Check out my web page.
Dan
[Modified by vettedan, 12:32 AM 1/29/2003]
Whenever I install a new wire harness I always fuse the circuit as well as install a fusible link . A fusible link will melt away(breaking the connection) if the fuse doesn't blow.
One other trick, I never use crimp spices on wire splices or connections, I always solder them. This way a short will cause the connections to act the same way a fusible link does.
For those who need a high quality Halotron or Chemical fire extinguishers,
Check out my web page.
Dan
[Modified by vettedan, 12:32 AM 1/29/2003]
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 1
From: Ft. Walton Beach, Fl USA
Re: My Vette Caught On Fire! (nastee383)
I appreciate all the responses and insight as to why the fire may have occured in the first place. To respond in general, the fans are flexalite 210's and I have noticed some heat damage before to the fuse holder but I just replaced it. It is a blade type fuse. The distance from the box to the alternator was about 18". The fire extinguisher in the car was from Home Depot. It was pretty small and had been in the car for about 3 years. It gave a good 3 or 4 blasts before it went limp on me. I guess I should have checked it periodcally to make sure it was fully charged. I guess there's some lessons to be learned here for alot of us, especially me. You think Flexalite would have assumed liability for my car if it had burned to the ground???? :rofl:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,286
Likes: 8
From: San Jose California
Re: My Vette Caught On Fire! (nastee383)
I had not thought of the inline fuses being a hazard before. I wonder if a fusible link would be safer/better. Our factory wiring harnesses are filled with them, must be a good reason for it. Opinions from others on this would be much appreciated.
Chuck
Chuck
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 708
Likes: 21
From: Montrose CA
Re: My Vette Caught On Fire! (nastee383)
Looks like we have a trend here... my flex a lites have scared me before too. On one occasion I had the fuse holder melt and just the other day I noticed the fan wire at the controller terminal looked a little melted. I am tapping power directly off the back to the alternator... is that taboo?
I used the wire they sent with the kit but I agree... it could easily use heavier gage wire. Too much current * too little wire = too much heat.
After two years of running these fans I don't feel I have given them a true test - running for an hour straight on a super hot day with the air conditioning on.... can they handle it without smoking the power feed wire!
Just this week I started thinking about how to wire up a pusher fan from the front (or dare I say - go back to the engine driven fan)
I used the wire they sent with the kit but I agree... it could easily use heavier gage wire. Too much current * too little wire = too much heat.
After two years of running these fans I don't feel I have given them a true test - running for an hour straight on a super hot day with the air conditioning on.... can they handle it without smoking the power feed wire!
Just this week I started thinking about how to wire up a pusher fan from the front (or dare I say - go back to the engine driven fan)
