1959 FIAT 500 fuses

CHAPTER 11
THE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
11:1 Description
11:2 Battery
11:3 The generator
11:4 The starter
11:5 The control box
1 1 : 6 Fuses
1 1 : 7 Flasher unit
11:1 Description
All models covered by this manual have 12 volts
electrical systems in which the negative battery terminal
is earthed. There are three units in the regulator box to
control the charging circuit; a cut-out, a current regulator
and a voltage regulator. These are adjustable but it must
be stressed that accurate moving coil meters are required
when checking or altering the settings. Cheap and
unreliable instruments will make accurate adjustments
impossible.
There are wiring diagrams in Technical Data at the end
of this manual to enable those with electrical experience
to trace and correct wiring faults.
For t h e U.K. Market the headlamps are of the double
filament dipping renewable bulb type with adjustments
for individual beam settings.
The battery is located in the front compartment
forward of the petrol tank and the fuses to the rear o f the
petrol tank.
Detailed instructions for servicing the electrical equip-
ment will be found in this chapter, but it must be pointed
out that it is not sensible to try to repair that which is
seriously defective, electrically or mechanically. Such
equipment should be replaced by new units which can
be obtained on an exchange basis.
F500111
11 :8 Windscreen wipers
1 1 : 9 The lighting system
11:10 Panel and warning lights
11:11 The horn
11:12 Lighting and flasher switch
1 1 : 1 3 Fault diagnosis
11.2 The battery
This of the 12-volt lead/acid type and has to meet
heavy demands for current particularly in the winter. To
maintain the performance of the battery at its maximum
it is essential to carry out the following operations.
Keep the top of the battery and surrounding parts dry
and clean, as dampness can cause leakage between the
securing clamps and the battery terminals. Clean off any
corrosion from the metal parts of the battery mounting
with diluted ammonia and paint them with an anti-
sulphuric paint. If the terminal posts are corroded,
remove the cables and clean w i t h diluted ammonia.
Smear the posts w i t h petroleum jelly before remaking the
connections and fit the terminals securely. High electrical
resistance due to corrosion at the terminal posts is often
responsible for lack of sufficient current to operate the
starter motor.
Ensure t h a t the filler plugs are in good condition and
show no signs of cracks. This may cause leakage of
electrolyte and consequent corrosion. Test the condition
of the cells after topping-up the electrolyte level with
distilled water to just above the tops of the separators as
shown in FIG 11 :2 . Never add neat acid. If it is
necessary to make a new electrolyte due to loss by
spillage add sulphuric acid to the
distilled water.
It is highly dangerous to add water to acid.

FIG 11:12 Wiring diagram for setting the cutout relay
Key to Fig 11 :12 B 2 V battery B 20 V battery
A Ammeter, 15 A scale ( 1 % accuracy) V Voltmeter, 20 V
scale (0.5% accuracy), directly connected to terminals 31-51
P Potentiometer for voltage adjustment, having such a capacity
that the current draw of the cutout shunt winding does not cause
sensible variations in the voltage readings (voltmeter under no
load) S Test lamp, with 2 V, 3 W bulb, to signal opening
and closing of contacts R Rheostat, 4 , 1 2 A R Voltagedrop rheostat, suitable to allow turning on of S with T open and
cutout contacts open
Setting of instruments before inserting the unit: P At
minimum (Voltmeter reads zero) T Open R All inserted
(max. resistance) T Open
1
2
3
4
5
6
FIG 11:13 Location of electrical system fuses
Key to Fig 11 :13 1 Fuse N o . 30.2 2 Fuse N o . 30.3
3 Fuse N o . 56.b1 4 Fuse N o . 56.b2 5 Fuse N o . 15.54
6 Fuse N o . 30
meter w i t h a fuller scale deflection of 40 amp must be
substituted. Adjust the rheostat to give maximum
resistance and operate the regulator for approximately
30 minutes with regulator controlled current and 13 volt
supply. The resistor R of the rheostat should be adjusted
until the current is steady whilst the voltage drops. This
will indicate that the unit has reached normal operating
temperature. Stop the generator, restart it and speed up
gradually to 4500 rev/min. Check that the regulated
current value corresponds to the specified value of
1 6± .5 amps. By continually reducing the resistance the
current should remain constant. The voltage however
should decrease to as l o w as 12 volts.
118
Cut-out relay adjustment:
Ascertain the type of regulator fitted and then wire to
the test unit as shown in FIG 11:10 or FIG 11 :12.
Before the unit is assembled to the test bed the instru-
ments should be set as follows:
P - at minimum so that voltmeter reads zero.
T — open.
R - all inserted giving maximum resistance.
T - open.
1 Contact closing voltage:
This test should be carried out at an ambient tempera-
ture of 25°±10°C. Close the switch T and stabilize the
regulator thermally by feeding current into it for approxi-
mately 15 to 18 minutes at 16.5 volts which is obtained
by adjusting P for initial regulator operating temperatures
of between 15°-20°C or at 15 volts for initial operating
temperatures of 20°-35°C. Once the stabilizing of the
regulator has been completed bring the voltage to 12 6±
.2 volts by adjusting P. Adjust the load on the setting
spring by bending the relevant arm until the pilot light S
is extinguished. Reset P to m inimum and again increase
the voltage by P and check that the pilot lamp is extin-
guished at the specified voltage.
2 Reverse current:
This test must be carried out at a temperature of
25°± 10°C and it is recommended that it is carried out as
soon as possible after the closing voltage test so as to
maintain minimum regulator thermal stability. With the
switch T closed bring the voltage to 14.5 volts by
operating P. The contacts of the cut-out should be closed
and the pilot lamp S off. Close T and increase the reverse
current by means of the rheostat R and check that the
pilot lamp S glows as the contacts part. The opening may
also be unsteady which will be indicated by a slight
buzz from the unit. Check the value of the ammeter of the
reverse current causing the opening of the contacts and
this should not exceed 16 amps. If the reading is unstable
or S lights up at the recommended limit reset the reverse
current to the minimum value and repeat the test once
more. Finally open the switches T and T and again
adjust rheostat R and P to the minimum settings.
Voltage regulator adjustment:
This test should be carried out at a temperature of
5 0 ° ±3 ° C . Connect the unit as shown in FIG 11 :11 and
load the voltage regulator adjusting springs by bending
the relevant arm. With the unit at the required test
temperature close 1 start the generator and stabilize
the regulator thermally by feeding a current for 30
minutes at 15 volts, which is obtained by adjusting the
generator speed. The generator should then be stopped,
I opened and the generator restarted and gradually
speeded up to 4500 rev/min. The voltage regulator
spring load adjustment should be set by suitably bending
the relevant adjusting arm and by rheostat R so as to have
a voltage of 14.2±.3 volts and a half load current of
8 ± 2 amps. Finally check the steadiness and accuracy
of the voltage regulator setting by stopping the generator
and restarting after approximately 2 minutes and gradually
speeding up to 4500 rev/min.