Miata Mailing List: August 1997, Message #84
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From: 	jaimev@netcom.com (Jaime C. Villacorte)

Subject: Re: Cable question

Date: 	Fri, 1 Aug 1997 18:46:54 +0000



On Aug 1,  3:27pm, "John Freas" wrote:

} <Soren.Svensson@ebu.ericsson.se> said...

}  

} > I'm going to install a gadget that needs about 10 amps and I want to get

} > the power from one of the cables at the ignition lock so it's only

} > powered when the engine is running...

} > [...]

} 

} Why not just tap in at the fuse box?  You can tell which circuits are

} switched with the ignition key just by what the fuse controls (eg: wiper

} circuit only works when the key is on).

[...]



If his gadget really does draw 10amps, he may end up blowing the fuse

when the other devices on that circuit draws any significant current

at the same time.



When I purchased my Crazy Red air horns, I had read a handful of

stories about how air horns might draw enough current to blow the fuse

if the brake lights were on (the horn is on the same circuit as the

lights). I guess that's why one needs to install a higher capacity

fuse when you install the CR horns.



For peace of mind I decided to use a relay to power the air horns,

tapping power off the high current ABS (unused in my car) circuit and

use the horn buttons to switch the relay on.



Soren may want to do a similar thing with his "gadget"...hmmm...what's

next after a Nitrous oxide install...dilithium crystal power-packs?  :-)





 - jaime villacorte          jaimev@netcom.com  or  jaime@tcville.es.hac.com

   Laguna Blue 94B                http://www.wenet.net/~jaimev/miata.html