Short Circuits troubleshooting
 

I am trying to track down a problem in a car. A fuse keeps blowing. It is my
understanding one way to do this is to remove the fuse and place a test
buzzer/light in the connections in the fuse spot. With all circuits closed,
I should have no power going through this fuse location. If I have power
there is a short is this correct? I understand power is coming from the
battery to one side of the fuse, but unless there is a "ground" there should
be no power going through it correct? How does that work exactly. Please
keep it as simple as possible. Thanks in advance.

Re: Short Circuits troubleshooting
 

"Cracker Jacks" <cjacks@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:5b5wb.8918$Cw.8784@nwrddc02.gnilink.net...
> I am trying to track down a problem in a car. A fuse keeps blowing. It is
my
> understanding one way to do this is to remove the fuse and place a test
> buzzer/light in the connections in the fuse spot. With all circuits
closed,
> I should have no power going through this fuse location.

"no power"... You mean "power" when the load is connected.

If I have power
> there is a short is this correct?

If the loads on the circuit branch are disconnected (turned off) and your
test lamp is lit there is a short curcuit. Some circuits can have continuos
loads on them, but would be small and not enough to make the lamp glow. The
resistance of the short or load has to be low or the conductivity high in
proportion to the test lamp for the lamp to glow. If the lamp and shorts
resistance values are 50/50 the lamp will glow at about half it's
brightness. If the short is direct (0 ohms), the lamp will glow at full
brightness.


I understand power is coming from the
> battery to one side of the fuse, but unless there is a "ground" there
should
> be no power going through it correct? How does that work exactly. Please
> keep it as simple as possible. Thanks in advance.

The battery is always grounded. The fuse is connected through a buss in the
fuse box to the battery positive terminal through a main fuse.
>
>

Re: Short Circuits troubleshooting
 

"Cracker Jacks" <cjacks@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:5b5wb.8918$Cw.8784@nwrddc02.gnilink.net...
> I am trying to track down a problem in a car. A fuse keeps blowing. It is
my
> understanding one way to do this is to remove the fuse and place a test
> buzzer/light in the connections in the fuse spot. With all circuits
closed,
> I should have no power going through this fuse location.

"no power"... You mean "power" when the load is connected.

If I have power
> there is a short is this correct?

If the loads on the circuit branch are disconnected (turned off) and your
test lamp is lit there is a short curcuit. Some circuits can have continuos
loads on them, but would be small and not enough to make the lamp glow. The
resistance of the short or load has to be low or the conductivity high in
proportion to the test lamp for the lamp to glow. If the lamp and shorts
resistance values are 50/50 the lamp will glow at about half it's
brightness. If the short is direct (0 ohms), the lamp will glow at full
brightness.


I understand power is coming from the
> battery to one side of the fuse, but unless there is a "ground" there
should
> be no power going through it correct? How does that work exactly. Please
> keep it as simple as possible. Thanks in advance.

The battery is always grounded. The fuse is connected through a buss in the
fuse box to the battery positive terminal through a main fuse.
>
>

Re: Short Circuits troubleshooting
 

"Cracker Jacks" <cjacks@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:5b5wb.8918$Cw.8784@nwrddc02.gnilink.net...
> I am trying to track down a problem in a car. A fuse keeps blowing. It is
my
> understanding one way to do this is to remove the fuse and place a test
> buzzer/light in the connections in the fuse spot. With all circuits
closed,
> I should have no power going through this fuse location.

"no power"... You mean "power" when the load is connected.

If I have power
> there is a short is this correct?

If the loads on the circuit branch are disconnected (turned off) and your
test lamp is lit there is a short curcuit. Some circuits can have continuos
loads on them, but would be small and not enough to make the lamp glow. The
resistance of the short or load has to be low or the conductivity high in
proportion to the test lamp for the lamp to glow. If the lamp and shorts
resistance values are 50/50 the lamp will glow at about half it's
brightness. If the short is direct (0 ohms), the lamp will glow at full
brightness.


I understand power is coming from the
> battery to one side of the fuse, but unless there is a "ground" there
should
> be no power going through it correct? How does that work exactly. Please
> keep it as simple as possible. Thanks in advance.

The battery is always grounded. The fuse is connected through a buss in the
fuse box to the battery positive terminal through a main fuse.
>
>

Re: Short Circuits troubleshooting
 

"Cracker Jacks" <cjacks@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:5b5wb.8918$Cw.8784@nwrddc02.gnilink.net...
> I am trying to track down a problem in a car. A fuse keeps blowing. It is
my
> understanding one way to do this is to remove the fuse and place a test
> buzzer/light in the connections in the fuse spot. With all circuits
closed,
> I should have no power going through this fuse location.

"no power"... You mean "power" when the load is connected.

If I have power
> there is a short is this correct?

If the loads on the circuit branch are disconnected (turned off) and your
test lamp is lit there is a short curcuit. Some circuits can have continuos
loads on them, but would be small and not enough to make the lamp glow. The
resistance of the short or load has to be low or the conductivity high in
proportion to the test lamp for the lamp to glow. If the lamp and shorts
resistance values are 50/50 the lamp will glow at about half it's
brightness. If the short is direct (0 ohms), the lamp will glow at full
brightness.


I understand power is coming from the
> battery to one side of the fuse, but unless there is a "ground" there
should
> be no power going through it correct? How does that work exactly. Please
> keep it as simple as possible. Thanks in advance.

The battery is always grounded. The fuse is connected through a buss in the
fuse box to the battery positive terminal through a main fuse.
>
>

Re: Short Circuits troubleshooting
 

Hi,
Buzzer will buzz until you remove the short or you can use small light
bulb instead of buzzer. Light will go off when short is removed.
Tony

Cracker Jacks wrote:

> I am trying to track down a problem in a car. A fuse keeps blowing. It is my
> understanding one way to do this is to remove the fuse and place a test
> buzzer/light in the connections in the fuse spot. With all circuits closed,
> I should have no power going through this fuse location. If I have power
> there is a short is this correct? I understand power is coming from the
> battery to one side of the fuse, but unless there is a "ground" there should
> be no power going through it correct? How does that work exactly. Please
> keep it as simple as possible. Thanks in advance.
>
>

Re: Short Circuits troubleshooting
 

Hi,
Buzzer will buzz until you remove the short or you can use small light
bulb instead of buzzer. Light will go off when short is removed.
Tony

Cracker Jacks wrote:

> I am trying to track down a problem in a car. A fuse keeps blowing. It is my
> understanding one way to do this is to remove the fuse and place a test
> buzzer/light in the connections in the fuse spot. With all circuits closed,
> I should have no power going through this fuse location. If I have power
> there is a short is this correct? I understand power is coming from the
> battery to one side of the fuse, but unless there is a "ground" there should
> be no power going through it correct? How does that work exactly. Please
> keep it as simple as possible. Thanks in advance.
>
>

Re: Short Circuits troubleshooting
 

Hi,
Buzzer will buzz until you remove the short or you can use small light
bulb instead of buzzer. Light will go off when short is removed.
Tony

Cracker Jacks wrote:

> I am trying to track down a problem in a car. A fuse keeps blowing. It is my
> understanding one way to do this is to remove the fuse and place a test
> buzzer/light in the connections in the fuse spot. With all circuits closed,
> I should have no power going through this fuse location. If I have power
> there is a short is this correct? I understand power is coming from the
> battery to one side of the fuse, but unless there is a "ground" there should
> be no power going through it correct? How does that work exactly. Please
> keep it as simple as possible. Thanks in advance.
>
>

Re: Short Circuits troubleshooting
 

Hi,
Buzzer will buzz until you remove the short or you can use small light
bulb instead of buzzer. Light will go off when short is removed.
Tony

Cracker Jacks wrote:

> I am trying to track down a problem in a car. A fuse keeps blowing. It is my
> understanding one way to do this is to remove the fuse and place a test
> buzzer/light in the connections in the fuse spot. With all circuits closed,
> I should have no power going through this fuse location. If I have power
> there is a short is this correct? I understand power is coming from the
> battery to one side of the fuse, but unless there is a "ground" there should
> be no power going through it correct? How does that work exactly. Please
> keep it as simple as possible. Thanks in advance.
>
>

Re: Short Circuits troubleshooting
 

in article 5b5wb.8918$Cw.8784@nwrddc02.gnilink.net, Cracker Jacks at
cjacks@verizon.net wrote on 11/23/03 8:24 AM:

> I am trying to track down a problem in a car. A fuse keeps blowing. It is my
> understanding one way to do this is to remove the fuse and place a test
> buzzer/light in the connections in the fuse spot. With all circuits closed,
> I should have no power going through this fuse location. If I have power
> there is a short is this correct? I understand power is coming from the
> battery to one side of the fuse, but unless there is a "ground" there should
> be no power going through it correct? How does that work exactly. Please
> keep it as simple as possible. Thanks in advance.
>
>
Sounds good. Try using a lamp, like a tail lamp where the fuse would be
connected.

Bill

Re: Short Circuits troubleshooting
 

in article 5b5wb.8918$Cw.8784@nwrddc02.gnilink.net, Cracker Jacks at
cjacks@verizon.net wrote on 11/23/03 8:24 AM:

> I am trying to track down a problem in a car. A fuse keeps blowing. It is my
> understanding one way to do this is to remove the fuse and place a test
> buzzer/light in the connections in the fuse spot. With all circuits closed,
> I should have no power going through this fuse location. If I have power
> there is a short is this correct? I understand power is coming from the
> battery to one side of the fuse, but unless there is a "ground" there should
> be no power going through it correct? How does that work exactly. Please
> keep it as simple as possible. Thanks in advance.
>
>
Sounds good. Try using a lamp, like a tail lamp where the fuse would be
connected.

Bill

Re: Short Circuits troubleshooting
 

in article 5b5wb.8918$Cw.8784@nwrddc02.gnilink.net, Cracker Jacks at
cjacks@verizon.net wrote on 11/23/03 8:24 AM:

> I am trying to track down a problem in a car. A fuse keeps blowing. It is my
> understanding one way to do this is to remove the fuse and place a test
> buzzer/light in the connections in the fuse spot. With all circuits closed,
> I should have no power going through this fuse location. If I have power
> there is a short is this correct? I understand power is coming from the
> battery to one side of the fuse, but unless there is a "ground" there should
> be no power going through it correct? How does that work exactly. Please
> keep it as simple as possible. Thanks in advance.
>
>
Sounds good. Try using a lamp, like a tail lamp where the fuse would be
connected.

Bill

Re: Short Circuits troubleshooting
 

in article 5b5wb.8918$Cw.8784@nwrddc02.gnilink.net, Cracker Jacks at
cjacks@verizon.net wrote on 11/23/03 8:24 AM:

> I am trying to track down a problem in a car. A fuse keeps blowing. It is my
> understanding one way to do this is to remove the fuse and place a test
> buzzer/light in the connections in the fuse spot. With all circuits closed,
> I should have no power going through this fuse location. If I have power
> there is a short is this correct? I understand power is coming from the
> battery to one side of the fuse, but unless there is a "ground" there should
> be no power going through it correct? How does that work exactly. Please
> keep it as simple as possible. Thanks in advance.
>
>
Sounds good. Try using a lamp, like a tail lamp where the fuse would be
connected.

Bill

Re: Short Circuits troubleshooting
 

Cracker Jacks wrote:

> I am trying to track down a problem in a car. A fuse keeps blowing. It is my
> understanding one way to do this is to remove the fuse and place a test
> buzzer/light in the connections in the fuse spot. With all circuits closed,
> I should have no power going through this fuse location. If I have power
> there is a short is this correct? I understand power is coming from the
> battery to one side of the fuse, but unless there is a "ground" there should
> be no power going through it correct? How does that work exactly. Please
> keep it as simple as possible. Thanks in advance.

The other responders posts are very good suggestions about using a lamp
bulb where the fuse goes to help find the short.

I have a question. Which fuse is blowing? If it is your dash lights that are
out,
I suspect that you just lately installed a radio, tape, or CD player.

ARM

Re: Short Circuits troubleshooting
 

Cracker Jacks wrote:

> I am trying to track down a problem in a car. A fuse keeps blowing. It is my
> understanding one way to do this is to remove the fuse and place a test
> buzzer/light in the connections in the fuse spot. With all circuits closed,
> I should have no power going through this fuse location. If I have power
> there is a short is this correct? I understand power is coming from the
> battery to one side of the fuse, but unless there is a "ground" there should
> be no power going through it correct? How does that work exactly. Please
> keep it as simple as possible. Thanks in advance.

The other responders posts are very good suggestions about using a lamp
bulb where the fuse goes to help find the short.

I have a question. Which fuse is blowing? If it is your dash lights that are
out,
I suspect that you just lately installed a radio, tape, or CD player.

ARM