Why Steve's winch BURNED

[Steve R]

As many of you may have heard...I had an close encounter of the flamable kind. Not smoke, FIRE!

So there I was driving along when suddenly the GPS makes some noise about loosing external power...not more then a second follows and my dash is lit-up like a 747 blinking away. A second passes and (as I pull off the road) the whole rig shuts down: the smell of electrical burning is detected. Um...yeah: falls into the category of NOT GOOD!

Up front smoke is rising. We run to the front and find the winch wires molten & smoking. As we pull the quick-disconnect apart a passing motorist pulls over and comes running with a fire extinguisher. His words: you've got a FIRE
going on!!!!

Sure enough...just under the wheel well is live flame. A wire had become so hot that the insulation caught fire and was working its way up into the engine compartment.

We got the fire out likety-split and very minimal damage occured. Today I solved the problem:

The guy I bought the winch from had not had a professional do the job, he had done it himself. He wired the winch polarity backwards and positive juice was flowing right into the ground/carriage of the winch. The paint on both the carriage and H2 recepticle had kept things insulated well, but finally it contacted and the "electrons hit the fan".

You just know I've got pics for ya'all:

[DennisAJC]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Hummer Man:
Steve, I am glad you got the true meaning of my POST.
You are obviously the most liked person on the forum. Your films are still talked about in circles far beyond this forum. Including some higher ups in the GM office.

However I am the most despised person on the forum. I have been accused of everything from having sex with animals to being gay to just plain being a pompous *******! Atleast one of those titles almost fits!
In the truest sense any attempt at an attack on you was only done to further lower everyones opinion of me!.

Finding fault with you was like calling Santa Claus a fake!

Best Regards!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


TRANSLATION: Steve, I wanna spread honey all over you and lick you clean baby!

HAHAHA! What a suck!


Steve, I`m sorry your witch burned. They still do that sort of thing?

He ain't heavy.....
He's ma HUMMER baby!
03 NUDE Pewter Lux H2
03 Dressed Range Rover

[Hummer Man]

Hey Alec W - Kiss my ass!

[Steve R]

and yet more

[Steve R]

here is a pic showing where to other inputs are connected. This one is a terminal called "A", which likely stands for armature?

As detected, when the winch sits unplugged and with no power applied, this terminal has continuity with the ground. The other terminal, marked "F2" does not have continuity with the ground.

[Steve R]

Hey guys...

This thread is supposed to be about my winch going up in flames....NOT HummerMan!!

HummerMan...there was a guy in my college fraternity that we called SillyPudd. He was the clown, the goof and we incessantly teased the heck out of him. The thing is.....he was still part of the group and we liked him just the same.

Not for better, but certainly for worse...you've fallen into a SillyTrap and emerged the whippin' boy for a few of the rough-edged boys on the forum. But there's good reason: some of your antics, claims, representations, accusations, implications and...shall we say "unique" way in which you choose to express yourself...have brought this upon you. HummerMan is what HummerMan does.

You are not the most hated person on the forum nor should you let it get to you. Just mellow out and try to fly right. Alrighty then.


Phil,

Yeah...you're right. The guy (who may read this forum and I may see again...hint,hint) was just another H2 owner who no longer has his H2. He sold me his roof-rack, GPS, PIAA lights, Warn Winch and many other accessories for an amazingly low price...I'm still well ahead. Course...when I realized the GPS software was missing and asked him if he had it...his response was just two words: Buyer Beware.

He has seen the pics and has not yet contacted me. In our phone conversation he didn't convey any sense of concern nor apologize to me....just denied that he could have wired the thing wrong. When I said "goodbye" to him...he said nothing and merely hung-up the phone.

As I figure...he didn't do it intentionally and his lack of proper social grace in accepting responsibility and/or apologizing reflects entirely upon his character....or lack thereof.

Again..I just never imagined the wiring was anything less then factory. What's more, the winch worked for both us a long time before the paint wore away and shorted out. Bizarre thing....the only component on the whole vehicle that has no fuse protection!

[Kevin B]

Hummer Man,

I don't think you have to be a "professional" to know the difference between + and -. I also find it hard to fault Steve. I think anyone would ASSUME the polarity to be correct since most morons wouldn't even do something so stupid. He bought it used and at least he hooked up his connections right, although we can once again assume, he never checked it or used it.

I have had "professionals" do far stupider things than that and paid them for their ignorance.

As for me Ill take my chances and do most things myself. I can read and if im not clear I can ask questions. At least if there is a problem later I have a better chance of figuring it out or the trail or the side of the road.

Bottom line, why pay someone to screw up your ride when you can screw it up yourself and cut out the middle man

[Kevin B]

Dennis,

ROTFLMBO

No Ill H.M.

[JohnB.GWU.]

Hummer man,,,sucks that your gay bro, id rather be a pompous ******* (and am) myself...peace

John R. Benda

[Steve R]

As many of you may have heard...I had an close encounter of the flamable kind. Not smoke, FIRE!

So there I was driving along when suddenly the GPS makes some noise about loosing external power...not more then a second follows and my dash is lit-up like a 747 blinking away. A second passes and (as I pull off the road) the whole rig shuts down: the smell of electrical burning is detected. Um...yeah: falls into the category of NOT GOOD!

Up front smoke is rising. We run to the front and find the winch wires molten & smoking. As we pull the quick-disconnect apart a passing motorist pulls over and comes running with a fire extinguisher. His words: you've got a FIRE
going on!!!!

Sure enough...just under the wheel well is live flame. A wire had become so hot that the insulation caught fire and was working its way up into the engine compartment.

We got the fire out likety-split and very minimal damage occured. Today I solved the problem:

The guy I bought the winch from had not had a professional do the job, he had done it himself. He wired the winch polarity backwards and positive juice was flowing right into the ground/carriage of the winch. The paint on both the carriage and H2 recepticle had kept things insulated well, but finally it contacted and the "electrons hit the fan".

You just know I've got pics for ya'all:

[Klaus]

Sounds like you need a fusible link:

Fusible Links

A fusible-link wire is a circuit-protection device that consists of a conductor surrounded by heat-resistant insulation. It is the only cost-effective, reliable protective device for preventing shorts to ground; it works on a continuous duty, high-amperage circuit such as the alternator charging wire, main feed to dash and electric motors (such as radiator fans). Unlike cartridge-type fuses, which can blow from momentary overload or melt down from generating heat over a period of time, the fusible link can last over 30 years and still work perfectly. Check out stock 1966 Chevelles.

The fusible link only burns as a last resort to prevent a major fire. Other surrounding wires or devices won’t be damaged because the melt-down occurs inside the link’s nonflamable insulation. Fusible links should be between 5 and 7 inches in length and four wire-gauge sizes smaller than the wire it protects (for example, protect a 10-gauge wire with a 14-gauge fusible link).

Klaus

"God made some men big and some men small, but Sam Colt made them all equal."

[Kevin B]

Dan,

your killing me. That was way too funny. I knew the monkey was going to come back to haunt H.M.

Is it just me or was that a sign of desperation calling out someone's wife? It's kind of like saying "your mother wears combat boots"

[Steve R]

more

[Dan]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by PhilD:

...so ladies we are waiting for your testimony <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This one refused to make an official statement, but mumbled something about HM being gay and it being time to destroy his nudie boys diskettes.




- Dan

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SUT on order since 12/02 - 9 months to go!
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[Kevin B]

Re-read the post on my end buckeye, thats what I said (I think)

[DRTYFN]

I can't believe that Hummer Man didn't find something in the bible refering to electrical wiring and incorporate it into his sermon.
Telling Alec to kiss your posterior might suggest an indecent homosexul theme.
And the Bart Simpson showing his underage buttocks in a lewd manner isn't very Christian either.

[Hummer Man]

Just another example of why one should have electrical things insatlled by the dealer or a professional.
Incase everyone has not read the fine print of your latest AUTO INSURANCE POLLICIES.
In all 50 states they have either been rewritten or adendums were sent out with wording like.

DAMAGE CAUSED BY AFTERMARKET INSTALLATION OF ACESSORIES ARE NOT COVERED UNDER YOUR POLICY.
YOU MAY BE ABLE TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL COVERAGE / RIDER TO COVER THESE ADDITIONAL ITEMS.

The long and short of it is that had STEVE'S H2 burned to the ground the Insurance company would not be obligated to pay him a dime. In the case of a first lean holder / auto loan, the insurance company tells the bank to go fly a kite and sue your loan holder. It's a nasty battle that can go on for weeks or months while Steve has no car.

I'm sure Steve saved money by going into the aftemarket and then going further and installing this himself without checking polarity. (THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF AUTO FIRES)

In doing so Steve choose to be "SELF INSURED"
but at what price.

Steve you have certainly reminded me of a valuable lesson. Don't step over dollars to get to dimes!

Thank you for sharing your story!

Kindest Regards, Hummer Man

[Steve R]

more 2

[Buckeye Hummer]

Guys, I think the thing came wired improperly from where Steve purchased it. I am sure he knows polarity as I have been out with him a few times and he is very experienced in off-road as well as his truck accessories. I truly don't believe he was at fault and I am sure the truck is covered even for a mishap like this.

There was a lesson to be learned, however, which was to always have an auto fire extinguisher nearby. It was the single item missing from my earthquake kit that, of course, I didn't have when we needed it. Fortunately, our Disco comrad had one as well as a passerby. Needless to say, I now have one velcroed in the back and ready for another outing with Steve!

One more thing, I think it was important for this post to be made it could indeed help others down the road, which is what this forum is all about.

[DRTYFN]

After dreaming feverishly about Steve's wife HummerMan woke up covered in peanut butter with all of the dogs in his heighborhood frantically trying to lick that last bit of Jiffy from his crack. HummerMan was again in heaven.