Under Hood Lighting

[WVZR-1]

Originally Posted by scottfab

Yes, exactly. If that mercury bubble partially sticks in place on the contacts after hard braking...... not good. My preference now, knowing what I do, would be to remove the mercury switches (actually leave them in place and come up with a jumper arrangement) then put a normally closed momentary switch in, most likely over on the passenger side on the valence there such that the hood activates it when open. I'll be putting this on my "to do" list.

Mercury itself is really toxic and has been known to be so for a long time. Recently here on the Columbia river it's been found to exist in the Salmon that run up the river. So much so the the Oregon State health organization is about to recommend a limit to the number of salmon one should eat per/yr or is it per/mo. Not sure. Anyway I digress.

Ford at one time had serious battery issues with which product I don't recall but it had to do with the position of that product on the car carrier. The rear most position on the top activated the mercury switches drained batteries. Well of course they would accept a charge, the product was sold and batteries failed relatively soon after delivery to customer or in instances before ever delivered to customer. It was a substantially large number of failures and it was actually traced back to the loaded position on the carrier.

[scottfab]

Originally Posted by WVZR-1

Ford at one time had serious battery issues with which product I don't recall but it had to do with the position of that product on the car carrier. The rear most position on the top activated the mercury switches drained batteries. Well of course they would accept a charge, the product was sold and batteries failed relatively soon after delivery to customer or in instances before ever delivered to customer. It was a substantially large number of failures and it was actually traced back to the loaded position on the carrier.

Truth be known, we all know there's a boat load of bad designs that have made it to the public and or government. Whether it's O-rings on a space shuttle or poorly designed and positioned gas tanks on a Pinto they make it to the point of being self evident when they fail.
We hear all about when lives are lost due to these idiotic decisions but rarely when they melt parts or kill batteries.

One can't help but wonder if those in the position of making the final decision were warned and to what degree they were warned of the pending disaster. There are unsung heroes and then there are the unsung despots.

[LancePearson]

Truth be known, we all know there's a boat load of bad designs that have made it to the public and or government. Whether it's O-rings on a space shuttle or poorly designed and positioned gas tanks on a Pinto they make it to the point of being self evident when they fail.
We hear all about when lives are lost due to these idiotic decisions but rarely when they melt parts or kill batteries.

Just like the Washington made boeing 787 where they are learning a lot more about sticking too many lithium battery cells too closely together without any venting or cooling across the chemical reaction on the Dreamliner...any sailor can tell you that his batteries aren't lineal...the way they function.

[DaveK]

Great comparison write-up there Scott. It's amazing how much science goes into something that seems such a small feature like a light.

Also got to add a thanks to Lance for the alternative option. I think it's fantastic that we have people like both of you (and Goldcylon come to think of it) that work out these update options to keep improving our cars.

Thanks to everyone

Dave

[LancePearson]

Scott is a terrific engineer at all this but the other aspect to it is the heat...the original incandescent bulbs which aren't in mine any more must have generated a bunch of it with those glass lenses and perhaps plastic lenses would not have stood it but even with the option I chose, the lenses get pretty warm after a while. The lower the total amps drawn the better the heat reduction ought to be.

Now I'm wondering if I want to screw around with some type of Leds and light the gills up with the headlights or running lights on just for the effect! (just kidding...no plans to light the gills but I suppose it is possible)

[GOLDCYLON]

paypal sent Scott. GC

[Corbusa]

Ditto Paypal.

[-=Jeff=-]

Originally Posted by Corbusa

Ditto Paypal.

Same here

[Fully Vetted]

X 4!

[PhillipsLT5]

same