Camper Trailer Australia – August 2019

EMERGENCY FUSES

If you are away from resources and suddenly

blow a fuse which you can’t immediately

replace, you can make one in an emergency

from standard three-core 240 volt flex.

Correctly fitted fuses prevent burning and

fires in automotive and other electrical syste

A blown fuse should always be replaced with

one of similar or smaller value to prevent

burning and possible complete system failure

A single strand from a 24/0.15 or 32/0.15

standard (7.5 amp or 10 amp) 240 volt flexca

would effectively replace a 7 or 8 amp fuse

when fitted correctly into any circuit utilising

less than 250 volts. Two strands could beuse

to substitute a 18 amp fuse, or three strandsf

a 21 amp fuse, etc.

Such a replacement fuse should be

considered strictly an emergency measure. It

would not blow rapidly as would a correctly

sourced fuse-wire, which is designed to blow

quickly when its rating is exceeded. While

genuine fuse wire is available from most

electrical outlets, this fix will work – in an

emergency – and it would be vastly bettertha

the often substituted piece of aluminum foil,

piece of scrap wire, or nail.

SCOTCHLOKSARE FORSCHMUCKS

Scotchloks are a simple electrical connector for when you wish to tap into a circuit for power. They’re a lazy and inefficient

way of doing the job and should be avoided at all costs. They will fail you. They rely on a blade-like set of teeth being

crimped onto a wire and biting through the insulation to make contact with the inner conductor. The problems are that

the contact area is minimalandyoucan’t run anythingthathasa highdrawoffthem.Theywillgetdustandmoisture

intotheconnectionovertimeand,aftermaybetwoorthreeyears,suddenlystopdoingthejob.Oftenthefailurewillbe

intermittent,justtomakethingsworse.VibrationusuallyaggravatestheproblemTellanyelectricalshop(includingthose

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fitting drawbars) which uses them you’ll pay the little extra to have the joint soldered.

Copper wire from a 240 volt flex cable will provide
you with an emergency fuse if you have nothing better

Leave the Scotchloks at Holmes

Firstly do not use pliers or cheap crimpers

to crimp a wire or fitting. Use a quality crimper

which will not release the job until sufficient

force has been applied, to achieve a good

contact without damaging the terminal or the

wires. When done, visually inspect the job

to ensure bare strands of conductor are just

visible on the exit side of the terminal sleeve

and that no insulation is caught inside the end

of the terminal. Also ensure no bare conductors

are visible on the sleeve entry side.

Finally, give the terminal a good tug with

your hand to ensure it’s securely fastened to

the wire. If it won’t survive this it’s not going to

lastlong anyway, and it will be a poor electrical

contact that will probably run hot or fail to

deliver all the current you need. If the terminal

hasno supplied insulation collar, add some

usingheat shrink, to shield as much of the

erminal as possible.

Bythe way, do not buy your terminals

ased on price. Buy quality from better known

rands, as they will crimp moreaccurately. The

ulation will last longer and theywillbe less

elyto fail if subject to vibration.CTA

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CRIMPING KIT

Crimping was developed as a way to get around

the more time-consuming process of soldering,

though the latter generally gives a better job.

Crimping is a quick and easy way to attach

terminals to wires, but a good result depends

on a few things.

Use a good crimping tool that won’t release

until sufficient force is applied

A row of properly crimped wires

makes a job look professional