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Ignition Process of Intermittent Short-Circuit on Modeled Automobile Wires
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Abstract
Our study was conducted to demonstrate the primary factors involved in fires which result from an automobile's electrical wire harness system with fuses. In our experiments we used modeled automobile wire harnesses to study the processes of ignition and the resultant fires. Current was passed through blade type fuses to a portion of the harness and was intermittently short-circuited by a grounded metal plate. The nominal current ratings of the fuses we used were lower than or equal to 30 amperes [A], and the operating current was 30A at 12 Volts. Current flowed to the harness specimens through a DC power source.
We found that electrical tracking with scintillation, caused by a weak electric flow through carbonized wire insulation, rarely generated flames in the wire harnesses without blowing the fuse. Ignition was never observed on the insulation near the areas shorted by the arc and/or overloaded currents going to the wire elements.
The ignition process with tracking may be one of the mechanisms involved in igniting fires in a vehicle's electric wire harness.
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Authors
Citation
Suzuki, J. and Tamura, Y., "Ignition Process of Intermittent Short-Circuit on Modeled Automobile Wires," SAE Technical Paper 960395, 1996, https://doi.org/10.4271/960395.Also In
References
- Blade Type Electric Fuse Links for Automobiles JSAE 1988
- Actual Circumstances and Countermeasures for Fire Prevention of Motor Vehicle Fires Automobile Fire Special Meeting of Japan Association for Fire Science and Engineering Jan. 1994
- Current Capacity of Low Tension Cables for Automobiles JSAE 1990
- Standard Test Method for High-Voltage, Low-Current Dry Arc Resistance of Solid Electrical Insulation 1989
- Nagata M. Yokoi, Y.. Deterioration and Firing Properties of Polyvinyl Chloride Covering Cords at Elevated Temperature Bulletin of Japanese Association of Fire Science and Engineering 33 2 1983
- Maekawa, M. Yamauchi, K. Nohmi, T. Odor Analysis and it's Identification Limit Proceedings of Japan Association for Fire Science and Engineering Conference May 1994