cyamamot@girtab.usc.edu (Cliff Yamamoto) (11/28/89)
In article <1989Nov27.160950.13937@sj.ate.slb.com> poffen@molehill writes: >My friend bought a Mazda MX-6 last year. Earlier this year the regulator on >the alternater went berserk. As near as the dealer can figure, the voltage >out of the alternater probably went as high as 100V! Everything, and I mean >EVERYTHING electrical in the car blew out. Virtually every light bulb, all of >the computers (engine, transmission, turbo boost, etc) blew out. The stereo >smoked, the air conditioner fryed, the windshield wiper motor melted, the >battery exploded. In addition, several wiring harnesses burned up. > >Russ Poffenberger DOMAIN: poffen@sj.ate.slb.com This got me thinking about the audio/ham-radio gear I have installed in my car. Can anyone confirm if the following would work: (-) 12 Vdc (+) 30 Amp +--- battery ---o-fuse-o--+----> to your favorite & expensive equipment | | | - | ^ 30 Amp +15 Vdc Zener diode ( just match the | | diode rating with +-------------------------+----> car chassis the fuse rating ) Are there any better ideas out there? What can be done to clamp a large voltage surge or at least blow out the fuse when a surge occurs? Thanks, Cliff