Re - Electric Mystery

["Graham&Joan Hilder" <graham.joan@domain.elided>]

Apologies for late reply, but here's some info for Agendatech's query in
Digest no.3080, if the problem is still there...... as an earlier writer
noted, it's not uncommon for a voltmeter to show the full battery voltage at
the load-end of a feed wire when the load's not running, but zero volts when
the load's switched on. This is due to a high resistance somewhere in the
feed from the battery to the load - to find the culprit just use your
ohm-meter to trace along the path, or switch on the load and measure the
volts along the path until you come to the sudden drop!  Fuseholders, relay
sockets and wiring connectors are common offenders.  With high-power lights
drawing a lot of current it doesn't take much resistance to upset the
applecart.

Best regards,
Graham, N.Z.

>>>>>>
Date: Sun, 26 Aug 2001 20:42:17 -0300
From: "AgendaTech Inc." <agendatech@domain.elided>
Subject: Electric Mystery
...............The mystery surrounds my aftermarket driving lights. I
installed a pair
under the bumper to be on whenever the car is running (a Canadian mandated
safety feature). It worked perfectly for 6 months. Now the lights are dead
so I tested for power at the end of the lead wire and it shows 12.8V.
However, as soon as even a single fog light is connected the voltage goes
to 0.0V. Thinking it was a short in the light I connected both individually
directly to the battery and they work perfectly.  I also removed the switch
and hot wired the lead (thinking it was the switch) but it made no
difference.The live lead is connected to an existing relay circuit (I think
the power window) on the fuse box.
Help!
AgendaTech Inc.

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