Joined: May 05, 2005 Posts: 105 Location: Del Rio, Texas
Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 6:29 pm Post subject: Electrical Problem
I am having some problems with my B/O driving headlight. When turned on it works for a few seconds and then you can hear a distinct "click" in the fuse panel and all the lights (dash lights, normal head lights, B/O convoy lights) go out. Turn all light switches to "off" position and a few seconds later another "click" is heard and the fuse panel I am assuming is resetting itself. Now checking the headlights and pannel lights evertything is OK but try to turn on the B/O headlights again and the dash lights and normal head lights go out again.
Obviously, I think the B/O headlight is somehow causing a fuse to blow. How do I figure out if this is a correct assumption, and how do I figure out which fuse and how do I fix it
It is a process of elimination starting with the light itself. As kenperkins asked, "have you disconnected the light"?
Disconnect the light, Turn on the light switch.
Does circuit breaker trip? Yes....No
If "No", then I would say the short to ground is somewhere between from where you disconnected the wire going to the light to inside the fixture itself. (Replace Light)
If "Yes", then the problem is in the wire going back to the switch, or in the switch itself.
Disconnect the plug on the light switch. Leave wire disconnected at light fixture also.
Disconnect batteries.
Now Assuming you know how to use an ohm meter.
Use an ohm meter to verify that wire has or has not a circuit path to ground in it.
Connect one lead of ohm meter to wire(either end), connect other lead of meter to a good non painted surface on the engine, chassis, or frame.
(If you don't have an ohm meter, there is another way you can make a continuity checker by using a 1-1/2 volt flash light battery and a 1-1/2 volt flash light bulb)(a simple device to check continuity). Or use two batteries and 3 volt bulb.
If you get a meter reading, (or a light "ON" condition using a battery and bulb) then I would say that wire has a circuit path to ground.
If the meter does not show any continuity at this point, (or light does not come ON), wiggle the wires to make sure the meter still doesn't show continuity to ground.
If still no continuity at this point, then I would say the problem is in the switch. (Replace the switch)
Checking the inside of that switch is something I haven't done yet.
That is how I would diagnose or trouble shoot it. _________________ Tropical Veteran
35th Inf. Reg. "CACTI" 4th I.D. VN
Amateur Radio K5XOM
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