Anatomy Of An Electrical Fire - Helpful Hints To Keep You From Going Up In Flames

Few things can make you feel alive the way a spontaneous electrical fire will.
We found that out this morning as we went to pull Slaghammer out of the shop when suddenly our world was filled with sparks and smokes.
It was a series of oversights and common mistakes that led to this happening, while reenforcing some lessons we've learned many times over in the past.
#classiccar #musclecar #mopar #electricalshort #wiring
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[jakewilkerson]

Have a good Father’s Day weekend Uncle Tony

[indianaslim]

Look at it this way Tony, you got your heart rate up, exercised by running to and from the toolbox, got some unexpected content for the channel, forces you to rewire to your standards, gives you something to do on a Saturday. You didn't really want to take a ride through the countryside on the bike anyway did you?....well, maybe forget about that last part...wiring is good rainy day work.

[paulricelli]

🟥 1) Do you have a battery master kill switch? Preferably 400 amp.
2) That wire is routed under the accelerator pedal. NFG.
3) Fuel line ...not enough slack, AND stainless covering is only covering regular rubber fuel line Not an A N line.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[KJ_Moore]

Uncle Tony! Your videos have really been hitting recently. This is solid content that can't be gotten from internet forums or Facebook groups.

Thank you for helping us young guys keep our hotrods on the road!

[jamesholbrook]

I stopped using fusible links because when they blow they spew out hot burning material which can set other things on fire. I use special plastic fuses which contain the explosive blowing of the fuse. The fuses mount in a plastic carrier which can safely be mounted in line. Ron Francis carries these in multiple Amp ratings.

[jimanastasio]

I learned that lesson a long time ago. A buddy of mine helped me install headers on an '82 Capri 5.0. back around 1986. I let him reroute the fuel line and didn't double check it. I didn't have a fire but did get a bit of a scare when I heard the sound of drops of fuel sizzling on the driver's side collector a few days later. The line was touching something it shouldn't have and had already worn through. It happened in my driveway so all I had to do was shut the car off and replace the line. Lucky.

[shootermcgavin]

Great video. I have a fully gutted 79 camaro Z28. 1 wire alternator conversion. It was going to be a clay oval track race car but I ended up falling in love with it, especially it having a flawless body. I decided to register it and set it full coverage on my insurance. Back on the road.
With that said I have added fusible links everywhere and only run 10 or 12 guage wires. Shortest and simplest routing. All the negative grounds are heavy duty. 2 engine to frame straps. Expensive heavy duty battery quick disconnect. No fires possible

[lccdan]

Great video! I bet that wire was ran like that to avoid the headers. Also if a wire passes through a firewall it needs a gromet.

[johnboy]

Whewee- been there done that. Nothin gets the heart rate up faster and higher than a car fire. Glad you saved slaghammer uncle tony!

[davidanderson]

I have a 70's C10 that I have had since the early 90's, went thru all the suspension, brakes, fresh motor and trans, fuel system. I was doing the interior and gauge cluster, troubleshooting fuel gauge, determined a wire issue from sending unit to firewall plug. I had never opened up the wire loom that runs from fuse block plug along behind engine and to alternator, starter, fuel tank. I pulled back the plastic loom cover and discovered a number of twisted wires with tape on them and some butt connectors with poorly crimped connections that just pulled apart. A wiring fire looking for a place to happen, you just never know when its covered up or bundled together from a previous owner. Great video!!! stuff happens.

[ryandoyle]

Glad you're well. Don't beat yourself up, your keen observation & quick reaction saved the project, possibly the shop! Remember, we are mere mortals. Luckily, everything appears repairable. Hopefully, the shop passed its post scare fire safety evaluation?

[frenchonion]

LOL Mopar Al laid that out like DET cord to take you out 😂😂😂

[mikehagen]

As a young and dumb kid, my 60 Biscayne would erratically pop the dash and tailight fuse. Sometimes daily and then maybe weeks to month of no problem... frustrating for a mulleted 19 year old, competing for girls with the pony car guys. I kept upping the fuses to bigger amps until finally one night, the car filled with smoke, luckily as I was slowly moving through a parking lot, a buddy and I bailed out as soon as we safely could... I pulled the hot and unblown fuse, and got the car home with only head and brake lights.
60 Chevy Biscayne harnesses luckily are simple, there's more wires in the door of my Corolla than my whole Chevy. Found one 12 Guage wire that ran front to back that was completely burnt and roached.
It was when I pulled the light switch that I found a penny that had fallen through the dash into the switch. Penny had many arcs in it and you could see the track in the dust where the penny rolled back and forth between open contacts of the switch. Grounding out on one side and no issue on the other... it would roll during cornering, explaining the situation... i learned many lessons from that.
A: Don't throw change on the dash of a 60 Biscayne, even though it looked like a good spot
B: Never overrate the fuse.
C: come to a complete stop before bailing out, I had to jump back in to finish stopping (5 mph maybe, but still)
D: cut my mullet and finally got action from the ladies ( mine was pretty bad)
30 some years later, I'm called to wire buddy's cars and boats, I'm also good at brakes.... another long story,

[kurtpoblenz]

It’s takes a real man to admit he made a mistake. I’m glad nobody was hurt & slag hammer will live to run another day 👍🏻. Great advice & great content, as usual Tony 😊

[gerhardbraatz]

What I got out of that is don't look to assign blame but lesson learned about your wiring.

[timothybyrom]

I use the breakers. That way, after you repair the problem you don't have to replace the fusible link. You just reset the breaker.

[reevesautomotivefarm]

Absolutely correct information on wiring. Wire looms are your friend and when you have to use a wire tie it should not be very tight

[teddycunningham]

Thanks am working on a solar power installation for my shop everything you said works for all electrical systems . Magic smoke is both exciting and expensive.

[kawaiirunnersdriftclub]

Jesus, I'm glad you and the car are alrighty! A couple weeks ago I installed a radio on my car, and it's really skechy on the wiring and guess what, today it stopped working, but it doesnt did nothing, just stopped. It has a fuse but it stopped working because of a bad connection between two wires. I will stop being lazy and I will check for alternator and starter wires, as those have almost 30 years now and alternator wires already aren't good already! I always got something out of your videos Tony, thanks for sharing with us!!!

[cougariog]

Excellent advice uncle tony. Got alot out of this.