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Circuit breaker holder/relay/whatever-the-hell-it's-called?

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digitalepiphany

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I'm looking for an inline circuit breaker, similar to this inline fuse holder (the two wires are all I need). But, I'm having a helluva time finding one. All I can seem to find are ones that are either audio related (too expensive) or have additional wires like this one.

Are there any simple, and inexpensive, inline circuit breaker holders/relays on the market?

Here's why I need it: the overdrive wire from my 700R4 is plugged directly into an ignition hot in the fuse box beneath the dash. With all the rattling my truck does, the wire wiggles around, causing the tranny to go in and out of OD. Which is bad. I've been driving without OD, but I'd like to get it back. The circuit breaker is part of the solution. The second part is finding an adapter that will plug into the ignition hot in the fuse box. Check out the pics for what I mean.

This is where the wire is currently plugged in:

GMATOStyleFuseBlock-Schematic.jpg


I'm looking for something like this:

fuse3.jpg


My thinking is that the more securely this wire is plugged in, the safer my transmission will be. The circuit breaker will just be built-in redundancy. Can't be too careful. I already had it rebuilt twice in one month, so I really don't want to have to do it a third. Plus, I can't afford to.
 
I'm actually looking for something that will accept a circuit breaker like this one (similar, at least; it doesn't have to be that exact one). That way, I can just remove the circuit breaker and replace it (if need be) with just my hands. No tools required. That way, I can leave the breaker holder wired in, and I don't have to mess with any of that stuff after it's installed.

Thanks for the link though. I'll keep it in mind if I can find exactly what I'm looking for.

Any ideas about a plug for the fuse box?
 
I actually bought this on Amazon a while ago, but I've since learned that ATC circuit breakers won't fit. At least none that I've seen. I've found some "low profile" ATC circuit breakers online, but I'm not sure if they'll fit. And, I don't have the money to keep buying things that I can't use. Even if they are only $5 a pop.

41Xm%2Bgp0BtL.jpg


As an aside, it'd be cool if I can find on that will fit this, and allow the top to close over it, but I'll cut the top off if I can find one that will otherwise fit.
 
I can't see the pic (edit: I can't see the first pic...second pic tells me nothing)...is it one of the auxillary ports on the stock panel that the connector locks in place? I can't see those wiggling out, it's how I ran my injection for years.

They are already protected by a circuit breaker in any case.
 
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digitalepiphany said:
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I'm looking for something like this:

fuse3.jpg
Click to expand...

That's a connector, not a circuit breaker.

Why not just use the factory fuse? That should all be in place on an '84. How is the wiring set up, anyway? You need to use the brake switch, etc. for lockup. Using all of the factory wiring with the vacuum switch is the best setup there is, unless you are using an EFI system that controls lockup.
 
First, I have no idea why you can't see the first pic. It's in my public dropbox folder.

Second, the second pic is for illustrative purposes only. I said that I wanted "something like it."

Third, I have no idea how the lockup was wired from the factory. I had the tranny rebuilt (twice), and this is how it came back to me (OD wire was just plugged into the ignition hot that is shown in the first pic). It wiggles around and goes in and out of OD. If any of you know how it's supposed to be set up, then please let me know.

Fourth, I'll try to explain again what I'm trying to do.

Between the current OD wire and the fuse box, I'd like to add a circuit breaker. So, the OD wire will connect with the circuit breaker, and the other wire from the circuit breaker will plug into the ignition hot on the fuse box. But, I'll still have the same problem I have now, which is that the wire will wiggle around, making the tranny go in and out of OD. So, to solve the wiggle problem, I'd like to find something that will clip into the ignition hot in my fuse box (similar to what is shown in the second pic). I realize that it's not what I need, I just wanted to show that I'm looking for something that will click into place. I tried explaining this at O'Reilly's and they didn't understand. Which is why I used the pic. Worth a thousand words, and all that.

Here's another copy of the first pic. It's a bit large, which is why I used the other one, but this will have to do so that you can all see it. Currently, OD is plugged into the IGN on the top left. So, I'm looking for a plastic piece that I can run wire to, and that will click into the IGN so that no wiggling of the wire will occur.

GMATOStyleFuseBlock-Schematic.jpg



I hope I cleared up any confusion. If anyone still doesn't understand what I'm wanting to do, I can draw a diagram. Hell, I might do that anyway.
 
I think everyone is confused because you keep talking about circuit breakers, but actually are asking about a better connector. A circuit breaker is the same function as a fuse and shuts off electricity in the case of a short circuit and has nothing to do with the problem you're describing.

If the connection is loose, just crimp the metal prongs on the wire plug a little so it's tighter when you plug it in. Adding a plastic clip around the wire won't do anything.
 
bp71k5 said:
I think everyone is confused because you keep talking about circuit breakers, but actually are asking about a better connector. A circuit breaker is the same function as a fuse and shuts off electricity in the case of a short circuit and has nothing to do with the problem you're describing.

If the connection is loose, just crimp the metal prongs on the wire plug a little so it's tighter when you plug it in. Adding a plastic clip around the wire won't do anything.
Click to expand...

No, I was pretty clear that they were two different things. This is what I said: "The circuit breaker is part of the solution. The second part is finding an adapter that will plug into the ignition hot in the fuse box."

What I wasn't clear on was how they would both work together to solve my problem. That's my fault. So, to clear things up, I drew a diagram. Hopefully, it will explain what I'm after better than I can.

Fuse%20Box.png


For the "clip" mentioned in the diagram, I'm looking for something "similar" to what I showed in the second pic of my original post. Something that is made to fit exactly in the IGN slot of a K5 fuse box, and that will accept a wire without letting it wiggle around.
 
A circuit breaker doesn't do what the little text description says you want it to do. If that little power terminal on the fuse block is unfused, then you can use a fuse or circuit breaker to protect the wires from melting if a short circuit occurs, but a circuit breaker won't trip if the power connector falls off or gets loose.

Edit: are you sure you aren't talking about a relay? Or does this wire your powering go to the OD relay/switch or directly to the trans?
 
This is what someone else told me I should do. It seemed like it would work. But, you're saying that any wiggling of the wire in the IGN slot will NOT trip the circuit breaker?

I have no idea where the wire goes exactly. I was just told that it's the OD wire. Whether it goes to a relay, switch, or directly to the trans, I have no idea. I've tried finding where it connects, but I guess I didn't know where to look.

At the very least, though, I'd like some sort of clip that's made to fit the IGN spot. That would give the wire a more secure connection than it has now.
 
There is no connector at all. The wire is just run directly into the IGN, which is why it wiggles around too much. The tranny guy didn't really do his job, but he's now 350 miles away from me, so I need to fix this myself.

Where can I buy connectors that will fit my fuse box? GM dealership?

I'll take a pic of my fuse box here in a sec and post it up for you.
 
Do you see IGN in the top left corner? I'm looking for a connector to clip into that similar to the brown connector you pointed out on the top right of the pic?

boxyy0.jpg
 
Every GM vehicle that used those style fuses AFAIK had those connectors. Cars, trucks, anything from about 1981-1994 or even later.

You are circling the wrong things. Those are unused fuse slots. The "IGN" arrow is pointing to the correct slot. The two at the bottom middle with "BAT" are the same thing, but obviously battery voltage.

Again, the connectors are keyed, so you'll need the right one, but they will be very easy to find. Just make a drawing of the shape you need, or grab one of each in the yard.

And while I don't think they are very good, they (the aftermarket) ALSO make fuses with a pigtail hanging off of them, so you can tap off of that. But IMO not a good idea to overload the fused circuit, and if the fuse did pop, you are out the money for another one. Not like you normally lose fuses, but we make mistakes wiring sometimes. :)
 
You need the Delphi Pack con terminals. It is either pack con 1 or pack con 3. I think American Auto wire may have a kit for what you are looking to do. I look later and may find the kit.
 
digitalepiphany said:
I already asked at O'Reilly's and they had no idea what I was talking about.
Click to expand...


Don't ask a person at the parts store, they are almost always clueless. Go to the wiring section and look through the pigtail stuff hanging on the rack. The wrecking yard may be easier though.
 
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