QuestionThe lightswitch has the built in fuse in the back and i found out the other night that it gets extremely hot when driveing at night. I dont want to burn my wireing up ,it has never blown this 30 amp fuse .If I have a short how can i find out how to find where? Thanks donny
AnswerWhen an electrical connection gets hot, it is telling you that there is current flowing through a resistance. If it is too hot, there is too much resistance. In otherwords, the fuse is either defective, or the connections to the fuse are dirty or loose. Take the switch out for inspection and make sure every metal to metal contact is bright, shiny, bare metal - especially those clips that hold the fuse in position - they often develop a coating with causes resistance, and thus the heat you feel. It would be a good idea to put in a brand new fuse also, since it may have been in there for 60 years!
The fact that the fuse has not blown means that there is no excessive current, which would happen if you ever get a short. If you are asking how to find out where the short it, there is no way to find it other than by inspection of all the wires, looking for a bare spot where the insulation has failed, and the bare copper is touching something made of metal.
If you have never had the wiring harness replaced in this car, it is way overdue! The old style cloth covered wire is very brittle, and the insulation fails easily, sometimes just on a bump or any other thing that shakes the wires - my advice is to buy and install a new wiring harness. There are vendors who sell these - check in Hemmings Motor News "services offered", or contact Y and Z's Yesterdays in San Bernardino CA for a new harness.
Dick (also still driving a 1947 6 volt car).
