Strange issue when starting - smoke from under dash

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Old Dec 31, 2014 | 11:23 AM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by 1971BB427
Very good point! If the car has a low voltage scenario, all the amperages, and resistance will go up.
Wow, looks like a new law of physics has been discovered. lol

According to Ohm's law--- Voltage (E) = Current (I) x Resistance (R)
Therefore:
E= I x R , or I= E / R, or R = E /I

Voltage does not change resistance, but resistance can change voltage, but only if there is a current flow.

Lower voltage always causes less current flow (amperage)
 
Old Jan 1, 2015 | 10:25 AM
  #12  
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Originally Posted by z28pete
Wow, looks like a new law of physics has been discovered. lol

According to Ohm's law--- Voltage (E) = Current (I) x Resistance (R)
Therefore:
E= I x R , or I= E / R, or R = E /I

Voltage does not change resistance, but resistance can change voltage, but only if there is a current flow.

Lower voltage always causes less current flow (amperage)
Afraid not. Lower the voltage, the higher the amperage. Higher resistance will indeed cause the voltage to also drop, and that's why as you get longer wire lengths, you get more resistance, and need to go up in wire gauge as you go longer in length.
If you use ohm's law you'll see that for example, 1,200 watts at 120 v. is only 10 amps, but at 12 v. it's 100 amps. Thus less voltage is indeed more current or amperage.
I only did this for 35 years before retiring, but it's been over 4 years, so maybe I'm rusty.
 
Old Jan 1, 2015 | 11:18 AM
  #13  
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You are confusing the issue with output power. Yes, you need more current to get the same power if the voltage drops, but the only way you are going to get increased current with a lower voltage is to lower the resistance. Resistance in a circuit is more or less a constant than can only be physically changed. I spent 35 years designing and repairing CO power systems for AT&T, and still doing consulting work for them, but regardless of "qualifications", the equations for power are: Power (Watts)= Current squared / Resistance , or Power = I X E, or Power = square root of So if the voltage is lowered then current must be increased to keep the same power, but this won't happen unless the resistance is lowered.
May want to look at the Engineering Tool Box
Ohm's Law
 

Last edited by z28pete; Jan 1, 2015 at 11:21 AM.
Old Jan 1, 2015 | 09:10 PM
  #14  
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I guess I can't see what the argument is? You're talking power, and I'm talking current as it relates to operating voltage. I never put power into the equation, as I'm simply stating the facts as voltage, current, and wire size are related to each other, and resistance.
Are you disagreeing that a lower voltage for equal watts results in a higher current, and larger wire size? Something tells me you're an engineer.
 
Old Jan 1, 2015 | 09:54 PM
  #15  
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I agree that lower voltage for equal watts requires more current, what I am trying to say that if voltage is lowered and the circuit resistance is not changed, then lower voltage will cause the current to go lower proportionally, which also results in lower watts.
Anyways, let's forget the whole argument. lol
 
Old Jan 1, 2015 | 10:14 PM
  #16  
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Good idea. I quit talking electricity when I retired 4 years ago.
 
Old Jan 1, 2015 | 10:17 PM
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Oh, you guys! If the poor OP wasn't corn-fused before, he sure is now. lol
 
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