Automotive Electrical Problems and Dangers

Many Americans enjoy radios, power locks, map lights, and other electrical features in their automobiles. Each of these luxuries is powered by an extensive electrical system that runs wires throughout the vehicle.

As automobile electronics become more advanced and sophisticated, so do their electric systems. Unfortunately, with these advancements come more opportunities for errors. Defective electrical systems may present a number of potential hazards, among the most dangerous of which is the threat of a fire.

Fires may occur when systems wear down, are improperly installed, or use faulty parts. This usually includes:

  • Unconnected wires
  • Faulty connectors
  • Shorts in the electrical system
  • Missing or faulty wire shielding

These errors may put drivers and their passengers at risk of being caught in a fire. In many cases, fires occur when the wires in the electrical system spark. Since automobiles may be full of potentially flammable materials, they may quickly catch fire in the presence of a spark.

Additionally, if the spark is close to gas tank, a car may be at risk of an explosion. Gasoline is a highly combustible substance that is prone to exploding. Even if a spark is not close to the gas tank, if a car catches fire, the gas tank will soon be consumed by the flame, which may further the damage that a fire causes.

In many cases, faulty electrical systems are the fault of an automobile’s manufacturer. In some cases, though, a third-party repair shop may be to blame. In either case, product liability laws may allow the victims of automotive electrical fires to secure compensation for their losses.

It is important to know your automobile’s history so that you can properly assign blame if you decide to pursue legal action. Visit the website of the experienced Wisconsin auto defect attorneys at Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C. today for assistance in your case.

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Electrical System Re-Designs – Mild Hybridization For Trucks

Hydraulic assist for Hybrids make a lot of sense and Peterbilt has certainly got some smart folks their and Kenworth is also on the leading edge with their use of Electronic – Hybrid Technology strategy. Re-designing the modern Truck electrical system also makes sense for saving fuel.

Changing over to a 42-volt electrical system will allow electricity to run many of the components that normally put large loads on the motor and burn more fuel. This is considered a mild-form of hybridization as defined by the Department of Energy:

Mild hybridization typically refers to the incorporation of a 42-volt electrical system on a vehicle. The 42-volt electric system increases electrical power thus allowing the use of electrically powered systems such as electric power steering, electric brakes, and electromechanical value actuation.

You see, by using a more powerful electrical system the truck will have the electrical energy to run more taxing components. When you move the steering in a truck or put a load on the engine for an air-conditioner system or a fan to cool the vehicle that means it takes more horsepower from the engine.

When the engine speeds up to compensate it uses a lot more energy and that means more fuel, so if the goal is to save fuel then it certainly makes a lot of sense to put less of a load on the engine and run it a much lower power setting and this is why the concept of 42-volt electrical systems is being considered and why the engineers designing these systems have had so much success with them.