electrical "ground" question (fixed...but still have question)

[joehahn]

Saturday night late I was driving home and flipped brights on...nothing...pitch black. Regular lights fine but try to switch to high beam...nothing. Next day I am reproducing the scenario in the garage with trunk lid open....and low and behold...the wire attached to the common ground "spade connector" thing by the fuse box is literally smoking and about to melt! I quickly flip brights off and it stops.

The good news is that I found the problem right away. Obviously knowing which wires were affected I pulled out carpet and battery and saw how my careless istallation of the battery right over the top of the headlight wires had rubbed a hole in one, nearly severing it. For now it just has electrical tape over it to protect it from rubing against frame again. The brights now work fine.

My question is...why did so much heat build up in that wire that it almost burned the insulation off? Aren't the fuses supposed to prevent things like this? What was the path of the electricity that made it so hot? Glad I have a fire extinguisher and happy that i have never had to use it.

joe 68 L

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by joehahn

nearly severing it.

maybe to much current being pushed thru a small wire.. and stock headlite wires are small to begin with, IMO