Fuse blown

[TheBeastie]

Last week I lost my spots. Investigating today I found that the main feed 15A fuse to the relay had blown. This puzzles me a little since I would have expected the 7.5A fuses between the relay and the spots to be more likely to blow but both are still good.

As far as I can see everything looks OK at the relay and when I replaced the 15A they seemed to work OK.

I suspect this is telling me something but I don't know what, or could it simply have been a bum 15A fuse? Any sparkies out there might be able to shed some light?

Would very much appreciate a bit of guidance since losing the spots was an inconvenience. Losing the dips or heads would have been a lot worse.

[Gromit]

where is the relay located? Water shorting it and blowing the feed fuse?

[NicTheOrange90]

I second the water theory, it holds water for me ...

[TheBeastie]

Thanks.

I have three 70A relays (dim, head and spots) and a 6 slot fuse box (1 to each light) fixed to an alu panel (half a discarded external har disc cover in quite neat aluminium) that I bolted onto wing at front n/s of engine compartment sort of tucked in behind the air filter container.

Water onto the relay is a possible. I had considered using a sandwich box to put it in but it is all a bit tight for space. Right enough when it went it was raining cats and dogs and a lot of surface water.

Perhaps I need to try and see if I can find a way to get it covered in

[NicTheOrange90]

I put my fuses and wiggly amp things in the dry (sorry not much help to you now)

This is the type of thing you could consider fitting http://rswww.com/cgi-bin/bv/rswww/searchBr...mp;cacheID=ukie

There are loads about and some more waterproof than this...

In the meantime, a rubber/latex glove and a lacky band is a start !

[TheBeastie]

THanks Nic

I put the main feed fuses and busbar in the battery compartment so it is OK. I suspect I might even be able to fit a good strong poly bag around the panel. It has a nice right angle on the top to stop stuff dripping onto the electrics and I have put duct tape around the edges to cover any sharp edges so a heave duty bag held on with elastic bands might do the trick nicely since it would stop water spalshing up.

I will try to put a picture up tomorrow and then raid the cupboards to see what I can find by way of flexible rather than rigid plastic water protection.

Silly of me not to have thought of it sooner!!

[TheBeastie]

Here is picture of my panel and as you can see there is not a nice shape to get a box fitted in.

I think as an interim measure I will wrap in clingfilm to at least stop big water splashes, which I think now is probably what did the damage.

I struggled to find anywhere where I could mount a nicely weatherproofed box and this seemed to be the bit with most room.

Thanks for all the suggestions

Malcy

[Happyoldgit]

For auxiliary electrics mounted outside I either apply liberal doses of silicone or smear the terminals etc with battery anti corrosion compound.

[western]

you could fit a rubber seal along the edge of the bonnet, so that water can't get in, I've got relays fitted to the right hand side & don't have any water problems.

[TheBeastie]

Thanks

Thinking back I suspect water came in from underneath when I had to manouevre quite quickly into a temporary passing place on a single track road in the dark up north. I probably should have been going slower but I thought the other guy was going to slow down.

The temporary passing place turned out to be a temporary lochan and created a huge splash - my legs even got wet where I think it came in through the handbrake attachment!

So I think the idea of battery any corrosive goo is a super one but may also keep the cling film on - or at least for as long as it lasts.