Headlights are tripping circuit-breaker

Bill in Al

Bill in Al

Senior Member
My '41 tudor, all stock electrics, 6V, V8 is tripping the headlight circuit breaker after the lights are on for about 30 seconds. It first started with bright beam only but now it trips with either hi or low beam when the engine is at highway speed. The lights aren't abnormaly bright when this happens and the ampmeter looks normal. What should I look at and in what order?
 
It could be the circuit breaker getting tired and tripping at a lower current.

Does it happen only when on the road at highway speed, or can you make it happen while parked and the engine revving? If the former, perhaps a wire has missing insulation and is shorting out from vibration.

Tom
 
If it was a direct short, the breaker will pop imediately. If it is slow to pop, it likely is the breaker going south. They are a heat sensitive bi-metalic strip that can lose its temper after many years and probably a few trips here and there. A corroded or dirty ground path on a high current draw system like the head lamps can also create enough heat over time that it could trip an old breaker. The old cloth covered wire can give a lot of troubles if it's starting to deteriorate too much.

Kerby
 
Back in 1951-'52 my '40 Merc coupe did it quite often. Usually at the most inconvenient times. I replaced the breaker. No more problems. Could be other things as the guys mentioned but I do remember them getting "tired."

Rich.
 
Thanks guys,my thoughts too about the breaker.It'll trip at speed on the road or stopped at a fast idle. I didn't know it was a strip, just assumed it was a winding of some sort. It'll be nice to travel after nightfall again!! --Bill
 
Changed out the old breaker with one from Shelly Vanpelt and now the lights stay on! Thanks everyone for your help.--Bill
 
How about disconnecting one light at a time and see if it still does it ,shoud it do it with one but not the other then likely a prob. with the light.
 
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