@Bob: thanks for the very clear explanation, I didn't know for e.g. that it protects in two ways. In my case the magnetic kind of protection type must have "kicked" in.. But I am not that convinced... According to other members of the list the circuit breaker of the powerantenna motor also protects the rear cigar lighters circuit. And they are still working..... I have to investigate a little further I am afraid. Ofcourse I will tell the cause if I have found it out :) Rob On Do, november 3, 2005 22:33, Bob Smith said: > Rob: > > > There have been several explanations about a circuit breaker but none > explained it completely. I worked at Westinghouse in their Standard > Control Division where we made circuit breakers. > > > A simplified explanation is: A circuit breaker is a device that protects > a circuit up to its' rated capacity in two ways: Magnetically, it will > trip immediately if there is a direct short. There is also thermal > protection. If a circuit is overloaded for a period of time, the > bi-metal strip will separate from the contact until it cools, at which > time it will return to it's original position. > > There can be manual or automatic reset; however in most automotive > applications they are automatic because they are hidden of in a > relatively accessible place. > > In your home, they are in the electrical panel just under the main > breaker and are usually manually reset after finding the cause of the > problem. > > Bob > > > Rob van der Es <r.vdes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Hello all Imperialists out there, > > > Just another question from a Dutch Imperial owner:) > I am sorting out some minor electrical issues on my 1960 Imperial. > > > I am repairing my power antenna motor at the moment and I must admit that > I have made a short circuit from the middle wire (pink) on the antenna > switch to ground... > > There was a little spark and after that the wire doesn't carry 12V > anymore.. Ofcourse I can take another 12V line from the fusebox, but I > want to keep this as much original as possible. So I want my 12 V at the > middle connection of the antenna switch at the pink wire. > > from the FSM I understand that the power for the antenna motor isn't > coming from the fuse box, so it isn't fuse protected. Instead of that a > circuitbreaker is used, can anyone explane the following to me: > > a) how does a circuit breaker works ? b) can you "reset" a circuit breaker > or must it be replaced? c) where is the circuit breaker located in a 1960 > Imperial (4 door HT) > > > Thanks in advance, > > > Robert van der Es > 1960 Imperial Crown > > > > > ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- > This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please > reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be shared > with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the Administrators > should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to > http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Yahoo! FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click. ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm