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Accessories:
Lighting System Basics
When you turn on an automobile’s light, an electrical circuit is closed allowing an electrical current flows from the battery through the bulb element or filament, causing it to get hot enough to glow and produce light.  A reflector and lens amplify and direct the light forward. But for lights to work properly, it takes more than an electrical current and a light bulb. The wire circuit must be grounded and protected from damage.
Normally, wires are covered by a protective plastic covering, but through wear and tear, the covering can become damaged. Frayed or damaged wire can cause an electrical short. Wire shorts allow for higher than normal electrical current to flow through wires or devices. If the current is high enough it can melt wires or permanently damage parts.
As a result, fuses were developed to protect an electrical circuit against damage by acting as a simple but effective circuit breaker.  Under normal conditions electricity flows through the fuse with out incident. However, if an abnormally high level of electrical current enters the fuse, the thin connecting fuse wires burn in half, severing the connection and opening the circuit. An open circuit effectively cuts off the flow of electricity to a light bulb or device. If you’ve ever looked at a burnt fuse, you’ve noticed the dark smoky appearance on the glass caused by carbon monoxide that collected as the wire burned.
Nearly all electrical circuits contain fuses. In your automobile fuses are generally located under the dash in a centralized location called the fuse box. |
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Article Pages
1. Audio System Intro
2. Radio
3. Amplifiers, CD and Cassette Players
4. Speakers and Antenae
5. Lights
7. Controlling the Lighting System
8. Interior Lighting
9. Exterior Lighting
10. Turn Signals
11. The Horn
12. Windshield Wipers
13. The Defroster
14. FAQs About Side-Impact Air Bags (SABs)
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