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Aircraft electrical systems are generally protected by minature
circuit breakers, typically located in the cockpit, but by and large
accessible to the flight crew (via a floor hatch).
If a circuit overloads, the crew can choose to isolate or reset the
circuit in flight.
Surface motor vehicles,
as foisted on the ignorant and credulous
general public by Bad People, usually have simple fuses instead of
circuit breakers. And these are often located in the engine bay,
inaccessible from the passenger compartment.
A failed fuse requires the driver to (a) stop, (b) identify the failed fuse,
(c) locate a correct spare, and (d) swap the two.
The problem is that many drivers are incapable of (b), (c) or (d), and
have considerable difficulties even with (a).
We therefore consider it would be a good idea if it were possible to
purchase a pre-wired aftermarket breaker panel that fitted inside the
passenger cell, which connected onto and replaced the existing fuse
box.
I break for the military
http://www.electroc...ns/circuit-breakers [4and20, Aug 28 2014]
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Annotation:
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In an early version of P2P networking, known only as "CB radio"..the aficionados were often hear to say "breaker, breaker" so perhaps the problems was recognised even in those days? |
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I also remember the earlier system of packet switching where the postman would deliver parcels to next door in error, and vice versa. How we laughed. |
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The link posits that aircraft circuit breakers are being put in military vehicles, while automative breakers in general are a separate product line. Where they're put and controlled is somewhat of a mystery. |
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Can you explain a scenario where resetting a fuse is both
safe and necessary within the setting of a 12v automotive
application? Allowing also that where critical, such as in
electric brake systems, auto reset breakers are already
used. |
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Just go the A-10 Warthog route and have multiple redundant systems. |
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// Can you explain a scenario where resetting a fuse is both safe and
necessary within the setting of a 12v automotive application? // |
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I can't see packaging a breaker box that would house every fuse replacement inside an auto anywhere. Maybe if we remove that annoyingly hot lump of steel underhood... |
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//Maybe if we remove that annoyingly hot lump of steel
underhood...// |
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Come on, you say that with naked cynicism... like the car
industry is incapable of progress, and it's unfair. It's an
annoyingly hot lump of aluminium nowadays. |
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... and then it turns out there's a bug in the latest issue of software,
and
every vehicle using it is off the road until the patch is released ... |
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There are large amounts of unused dashboard real estate in most
vehicles. Finding space isn't a problem. Light aircraft cockpits are less
roomy than most road vehices, and they manage OK. |
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Having had to spend a couple hours, waist-deep upside-down in the engine compartment, in order to find a windshield-washer relay module, I sympathise, but even in home systems you could be completely happy with only the kitchen and garage/workshop on breakers, the rest on fuses. |
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I hate to have to say this to [8th] but this is actually
quite a g... quite a g..g.. not such a terrible idea. |
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I can't remember the last time I had a fuse issue on a
car... which might say more about my memory. Relays...
oh relays I've had issues with, but they're all solid state
now aren't they? |
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I think if you were going to bring aviation style safety
measures into the regular driving experience, you'd have
a huge decrease in accidents. Mainly because noone
would be bothered running through the 45 min checklist
for the sake of 2 pints of milk and an onion. The roads
would be empty save the nerdy motoring enthusiast...
Wait, what am I saying? that's exactly what I want. |
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I had to replace a fuse just 2 weeks ago for the accessory outlet. |
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Simply replace all fuses with 6 inch nails. No more pesky
blown fuses. |
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There are numerous auto reset and manual reset overload
relays designed to replace the currently widely used spade
tap fuses found in essentially all cars (excluding the tiny
ones) buy them at your nearest auto parts retailer. The cost
is 150 times higher than a conventional fuse but hey,
convenience, right? It is very likely that your fuse box cover
will no longer fit, but that should make spotting tripped
circuits easier. |
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The accessory panel for my boat has breakers rather than fuses, and it was only about double the price of the fuse-wired one. |
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I think this is a great idea, and in fact it would probably result in fewer car fires rather than more. Whilst you'd get a lot more people ignoring issues and just resetting the breaker, you'd also get less people running out of fuses and replacing with the wrong fuse, or something that isn't a fuse (like fencing wire). |
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Of course, forcing vehicle manufacturers to locate all fuses and relays in user-maintainable locations would be a good start. |
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Persuading them also to install non-faulty electrics
would be a solution too. |
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I'm guessing that British cars must still be the best on
earth. |
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