Power and Ground Distribution: Description and Operation

Electrical power for the car is provided by the Generator when the engine is running. The schematic diagram shows how each circuit gets its power.

The car's power distribution system consists of fusible links, fuses, circuit breakers and the ignition switch. Fusible links are short pieces of wire several times smaller than the circuit wire to which they supply power. They are covered with a special high-temperature insulation. When conducting too high a current, they will melt and stop current flow. They are designed to protect the car's electrical system from electrical shorts that would not be protected by the circuit breakers and fuses. See fuse block details for complete wiring to the first component in each circuit.

The ignition switch has six positions, five of which have detents. The BULB TEST position (after RUN and before START) dies not have a detent.

Individual schematics show their fuses supplied from a heading such as HOT IN RUN, corresponding to the ignition switch position in which power is supplied to the circuit.