-----Original Message-----
From: spitfires-owner@autox.team.net
[mailto:spitfires-owner@autox.team.net] On Behalf Of mikeross
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2004 2:30 PM
To: Spitfires@Autox.Team; SPIT6CGT6@yahoogroups.com;
Spitfire-Enthusiast@Yahoogroups.Com; Nass@Yahoogroups.Com
Subject: Need help from those electrical engineers! Kinda long
I have a stereo conversion for my original Triumph radio that gives me
AM/FM/CD ability ,with a built in amplifier, a 6 disc CD changer/player
and
an electric retractable antennae.
Lately, I've noticed a very unusual electrical problem. If I have the
radio
on and step on the brake pedal or flip the turn signal lever, the radio
goes
off and the antennae retracts. The fuel gauge, turn signals and brake
lights
also quit working. But, it doesn't blow a fuse!
I haven't pulled all the gauges to check the connections yet because I
wanted
to run this by those of you with more electrical experience than I.
I had installed a "CirKit Boss Fuse Center", purchased from Victoria
British
to wire in the radio/amplifier and CD player/changer, and the electric
retractable antennae. The fuse center is grounded directly to the
negative
battery cable. It has two positive leads for power; one coming from an
"ignition hot" source for the radio and another from a "constant hot"
source
for a clock.
My recollection is that I spliced into the hot wire going to the fuel
gauge
for the "ignition hot" circuit and to the brake light switch wire for
the
"constant hot" circuit. That could explain a relationship between the
radio,
brake lights and fuel gauge. I cannot see the connection to the turn
signals,
though.
I used those parallel pinch wire connectors that fold and crimp into the
source wire causing sharp metal prongs to cut through the insulation and
contact the strands of wire to make a connection. The wire you're
splicing is
also clamped and perforated at the same time, parallel to the source
wire
allowing current to flow through both.
To make things more mysterious, sometimes, if I turn off the radio
after
power is lost and I don't use the brakes or turn signals for a while, I
can
turn on the radio and the antenna goes up and the radio works! Then, I
step
on the brake or flip the turn signal, and it goes off again.
Any thoughts?
TIA,
Mike
Mike sounds like your brakes are drawing a lot of current and pulling
the voltage down to other circuits. Maybe it is time to:
1. Look into a more powerful alternator
2. Check out the connectors on the brake circuit
3. Check your battery
Joe
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