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.-- 8th of 7, Aug 28 2014 I break for the military http://www.electroc...ns/circuit-breakers [4and20, Aug 28 2014] 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?
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.-- not_morrison_rm, Aug 28 2014 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.-- 4and20, Aug 28 2014 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.-- WcW, Aug 28 2014 Just go the A-10 Warthog route and have multiple redundant systems.-- normzone, Aug 28 2014 // Can you explain a scenario where resetting a fuse is both safe and necessary within the setting of a 12v automotive application? //
Yes.-- 8th of 7, Aug 28 2014 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...-- RayfordSteele, Aug 28 2014 //Maybe if we remove that annoyingly hot lump of steel underhood...//
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.-- bs0u0155, Aug 28 2014 ... 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 ...
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.-- 8th of 7, Aug 28 2014 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.-- FlyingToaster, Aug 28 2014 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.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Aug 28 2014 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?
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.-- bs0u0155, Aug 28 2014 I had to replace a fuse just 2 weeks ago for the accessory outlet.-- RayfordSteele, Aug 29 2014 Simply replace all fuses with 6 inch nails. No more pesky blown fuses.-- Ling, Aug 29 2014 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.-- WcW, Aug 30 2014 The accessory panel for my boat has breakers rather than fuses, and it was only about double the price of the fuse-wired one.
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).
Of course, forcing vehicle manufacturers to locate all fuses and relays in user-maintainable locations would be a good start.-- Custardguts, Aug 31 2014 Persuading them also to install non-faulty electrics would be a solution too.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Aug 31 2014 I'm guessing that British cars must still be the best on earth.-- WcW, Aug 31 2014 random, halfbakery