Engine Bay Heat Protection

[morebeanz]

Some of my heat shield material is looking rather flakey, so Iam looking at replacing the accessible bits.

However I don't really understand why some of the cables are shielded on my car. Can someone educate me as to why?

The one that I am confused about is the main battery cable, and I just don't get why this needs insulation for (part of) its run? And if it does, why wouldn't the earth lead need it too?

[gruffalo]

If the insulation on the live melts due to heat then touches othe rmetal then we have aother burnt out Cerb.

If the same happens on the earth wire then we still have a happy Cerb with more than one battery eath point.

So i am guessing that the live was heat insulated as a precaution.

[scotty_d]

gruffalo said:

If the insulation on the live melts due to heat then touches othe rmetal then we have aother burnt out Cerb.

If the same happens on the earth wire then we still have a happy Cerb with more than one battery eath point.

So i am guessing that the live was heat insulated as a precaution.

This, If live shorts it has a high chance of starting a fire, if a earth goes it will find one off the few other paths.

I have also wrapped my battery cable in spiry wrap to prevent chafing.

[morebeanz]

Ok, I get that, thanks. Only really likely if it comes loose and actually touches something hot.

Mind you it means mine is in worse state than I thought, since there is a section with shielding which runs behind the battery cover, and then the section onwards is unshielded (or lost its shielding!).

I'd better get on the case...