Fuses
Turbo Mini Forums

I've tried the search but it was a bit difficult to get any real results from it so I thought I'd ask.

Pulled the wiring loom out the project yesterday and started splitting it up and labelling it all.
I'm looking to pretty much renew the whole thing for a little peace of mind and so I know exactly what wire does what so it will be a little easier for trouble shooting at later dates.
I will be adding a few extra things into it, Megajolt, some extra gauges, sound system, fuel pump etc.

Anyway, everyone loves the look of an internal fuse box (or I do at least) so I was going to relocate the original fuse box and probably add some more.
My question is (probably a little simple and obvious but) can pretty much all circuits be protected by a fuse?
Are there any positive or negative side effects to this?
What power ratings would different circuits require? Is that something I'd have to work out myself?

I've been studying the wiring diagrams in the Haynes manual (until about 1am last night!) and slowly starting to understand it (a lot easier than I first envisaged) but knew that you guys are the pool of all knowledge so thought I could ask.

Fuses protect the supply, not the circuit they feed.

So, yes, fit one to every circuit. Although, I think I'm right in saying that the is no fues on the coil supply, and certinally not on the starter motor.

Ratings you'll need to work out yourself depending on what you have on each fuse. But I'd just use the standard loom ratings as a guide.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

Cheers Wil! That confirmed what I thought.
Time to buy me some fuse boxes!

No doubt I'll have a few more questions but I'm starting to understand the wiring diagrams and get into the flow of it a bit.
Quite therapeutic and fun... any else agree?

I should post a picture of my bedroom wall, got half my loom pinned up on it!

Just a quick question... (double post, yeah, sorry about that) I'm looking for some sort of tool to extract the pins from connectors, not quite sure why, I suppose I could just cut them as they're all being renewed.
I was wondering where I could find one, or if a paper clip would do the job?

Bringing this thread back a little instead of starting a new one.
I'm trying to understand relays at the moment and what it is they are exactly for.
I've Googled, read, got confused, understood, read some more, got a puzzled look on my face then came here.

What I've read, generally and for automotive electrics, is that they can be used a lot for switched circuits. This is due to high current outputs and low inputs... ?
Starter solenoids, heated screens and horns are the examples I've read.

I think I understand this part but where I'm getting a little confused is how they are wired in.
You've got 4 pins on a relay, where do they go? One for the power feed from the switch(?) and then for the output to the unit you are powering. Do they have to be earthed? Then we have another.

I'm pretty lost with this one so if anyone is happy to put up with my dumb questions then thank you :)

This is what i work off mate hope it helps.

simon

I have started posting on Instagram also my name on there is turbomk1golf

Nothing is impossible it just costs more and takes longer.

remember to put a diode across the relay coil.

I think I've got it.
I see how they're wired up. I just need to work out how they work so I can find out when I'd need to use them!

Cheers for that Simon, that did help a bit, I've got my starter relay in my hand too so I can get a proper representation of what the hell I'm looking at.

Edited by DaveVader on 11th Oct, 2010.

You could think of it as just a high current switch that you operate remotely via a low current switch or sender.

You don't want to draw lots of amps through a headlamp stalk switch for instance, as the contacts won't last very long.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

When the Thermostat switches on, pin 86 is ground so the relay knows to switch its internal switch to click on the fan motor.
Please put me in my place if wrong, GCSE electronics may still be in there somewhere!

On 11th Oct, 2010 madmk1 said:
This is what i work off mate hope it helps.

simon

There are various different configurations of relays, 4 pin, 5 pin and not all four pin are the same.

Either VWP or AES have a good sketch of all the common varieties and what the connector numbers mean.


EDIT - link to diagrams http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-...lays/relays.php

(courtesy of Sprocket from a few days ago as I'd forgotten where it was.....)

and I should have said not all five pin are the same...

Edited by Rod S on 12th Oct, 2010.

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???

Cheers for the link Rod, been on VWP.eu for the past few days and found their wiring diagrams also quite helpful.

This may help understand how a relay works.

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/relay1.htm

How Stuff Works = EPIC!
I think I understand how they work now, it's just their application I'm not 100% on.
What circuits will they be used on in a mini? Obviously there is the starter relay but I really can't think of much else that will need serious power.

on older mini's they arnt used for that much but on something like an MPI or a modern car they will be used for the fuel pump, heated windows, headlights, rad fan, or pretty much any thing else about 10A or above

Thanks Joe, that's what I thought! Especially as there aren't many on my loom anyway.
Fuel pump entered my head and I'll be running one when I go turbo anyway but don't know if a relay will be used.