Circuit Protection

Protective Devices terminate current flow in a circuit. Located in series within a circuit Excessive current flow results from a decrease in circuit resistance. Excessive current flow can damage components and wiring. Shorts Undesirable, low resistance path for current to flow.

Fusible links

Special section of wire designed to melt(open) when current flow exceeds its rating Fusible link usually 4 wire sizes smaller than the circuit it protects Must be replaced with wire of same rating Located near starter or Pos. battery terminal

Fuses

Glass Cartridge Minifuse Autofuse

Maxifuse

Fuse Ratings

Element within the fuse melts if current exceeds its rating See figure 3-3 on page 53

Circuit Breakers

Protects circuits that are prone to overloading Some reset themselves, others must be manually reset Commonly used with head lights & power seats

ECB Electronic Circuit Breakers

Solid state design no moving or replaceable

parts Positive temperature coefficient resistance increases as current increases, ECB resets when it cools Commonly found in power window motors and power door lock actuators

Switches
Control current flow through a circuit Normally open no current flow when switch is at rest Normally closed current flow when switch is at rest

Switches
SPST

Single pole single throw

Pole - number of input circuits Throw number of output circuits

Single pole double throw Ganged switch several contacts move together, affect several circuits Mercury switch detects motion
SPDT

Relays

Device that uses low current to control a high current circuit Electromagnetic switch

Solenoids

Electromechanical device that performs work Electromagnet that moves an iron core one way, an internal spring resets core Some solenoids require reverse polarity to reset core

Variable Resistors
Vary input voltage or current to an output device
Stepped resistor several fixed resistor values Rheostats two wire regulator of electrical

current Resistance value changes Potentiometer three wire resistor that acts as a voltage divider, produces a continuously variable output signal proportional to a mechanical position

Electronic Components

Diodes

One way electrical valve Zener Diode Allows voltage to pass in the opposite direction when voltage exceeds a certain limit

LED Light-Emitting Diode

Forward biased LED that emits light No filament, will last a very long time Used in IP clusters and Tail lights Requires very little current to operate

Clamping Diode
Used to suppress voltage spikes
Wired in parallel with a electromagnetic coil

A/C clutch Connected to the circuit in reverse bias

Transistor

Regulates current or voltage and acts as a switch or gate for electronic signals Solid state switching device

Phototransistors
A semiconductor device which conducts a current proportional to the light incident on it. It behaves like a normal transistor, except that it has a transparent top to its case and a small current is produced by photons generating electron-hole pairs in the base (photoelectric effect). This small current is amplified by the transistor action Detects available light, used in automatic lighting systems

Phototransistor

Used on GM power sliding doors to monitor door movement and location

Circuit Defects
Open A break in circuit continuity, stops

current flow Short Current bypasses the normal circuit path

Short to ground Short to power Short to another circuit
High Resistance unwanted opposition to

current flow