It's possible the breaker has weakened but also possible there is corrosion or poor contact in connectors or switches causing too much current draw. Don't believe the voltage rating for the replacement breaker is the most important factor here but more the mounting.

Cole-Hersee lists their breaker rating as 6- (thru as high as)48 volts. The voltage rating in this case usually indicates the design point where heat, breaker contact distance, distance to outer shell, or a material used in mfg could be adversely impacted if exceeded.

For example, 30 amps is 30 amps be it 6 or 12v. The arc generated at 12 v when breaker opened would be a bit more substantial and hotter than one at 6v because of the extra voltage pushing it and might cause the contacts to weld or pit if too close together. Such might happen with a low rated unit used higher but one capable of working higher would be OK at either voltage because it's still 30a but would have the spacing or material for the higher capability and rating.

Same holds true for household breakers rated for 120-240v--pretty much interchangeable as long as not used over the rating.

Pat, If these ramps will support 3000Kg safely I see no problem. I never get beneath a car trusting on one lifting device. I always support whatever end of the car I have up on the ramps with either the 3 ton floor jack or else an additional pair of heavy duty jack stands along the frame and sometimes all three. Once supported I also rock the car back and forth to test the stability of the supports. I am not a big fan of ramps and prefer the floor jack and heavy duty jack stands but I have a set and use them occasionally but never without an additional support. I also "chock whatever set of wheels are on the ground and if the rear wheels I set the e-brake as well to prevent roll back.

Well-made ramps are probably just fine, but I've never felt comfortable with them; I discarded mine and went back to hydraulic rolling floor jacks and very heavy duty jack stands. Even with the front or rear end (or both) on jack stands, I still position the jacks "just in case". Just a personal preference, not because of any unhappy experiences with ramps.

What makes you sure the circuit breaker failed? I'd think the chances are better that you had a short in the high beam circuit.

This is my first project, always loved the factory cars that haven't been torn up or hot rodded out --- I found a 1955 Packard Clipper Custom thats all original and not in bad shape, of course it needs some work, paint, etc... I am picking it up today and want to know what I should start looking for as normal issues with this particular car -- it is automatic, I'm assuming the two speed -- and starts right up -- got it for $6250 -- the brakes are weak and are the first thing to get done because this will be driven -- so, thanks in advance for anything I can learn from yall, I am 33 and my project is 54 LOL so the car knows more than I do!!!

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Thank you for that, good reports there. I need someone to do the maths as regards weights,ie, the Packard and the max. limit of the ramps, for my own resurance.

Pat.

Good afternoon all,

This post is far from the usual (semi)light-hearted one for me, it involves the death of someone I loved dearly and its effect upon me.

I seek you advice and support in regards a problem I have.

In 2004 my partner/girlfriend, Ciara, was fatally injured when a jack collapsed under a car she was working on. Obviously I dont want a lecture on the subject, (I was actually on the way to a motor parts store to get axle stands when Ciara decided to preform a 'quick-fix' under the car.)

The result of this is that I have been unable to work under cars since then, even in a modern workshop with a state of the art,four post,'qualrouple' lock safety system.

Obviously, I need to get on with my life and need to 'do things' under my cars. I dont have a pit and I would not trust a lift. I recently bought a pair of drive-on ramps, as heavy-duty as possible, but I am still am terrified of using them. While I am normally a confident person, I am reduced to a nervous wreck at the thoughts of getting under a car.

This link,http://shop.difflock.com/heavy-duty-extra-wide-vehicle-ramps-p-100.html, will bring you to the ramps I bought, whould you have a look and tell me your thoughts on them? While I know the weight of my Packard, will someone independently tell me if they are suitable to safely carry my Packard?

I trust the people here more than anyone else for unbiased advice and opnion....

Yours truly,

Pat.

Wednesday 19th August 2009

Yesterday Wade had pointed out a minor problem with the Coupe, the battery had come loose! The battery, an Optima, is mounted on the chassis rail next to the steering box sitting on a rubber pad and held in place by a clamp at each end attached to studs welded to the chassis rail. Looks like vibrations from sitting on the rubber mount combined with possibly not enough thread length allowed the battery to slide out from under the clamps. Easy fix then, a couple of washers to compensate for not enough thread length and re-tighten? Should have been easy but "Heavy Handed" Mal snapped off a not very well welded stud. How to fix it, and more importantly how to fix it so it doesn't happen again? By using a longer stud, drilling a slightly smaller hole in the chassis rail, tapering the end of the stud, gently forcing it into the drilled hole and a good weld job, that's how. Had to utilise John's welding skills with the MIG and now I can assure you that it ain't gonna' snap off anytime soon!

That done turned to the topside of the running boards of which the undersides had been POR-15'd yesterday. Great job, but POR-15 is very runny, so with the myriad of holes in the boards for the various trim pieces some, well a fair bit, ran through to the topside. Started cleaning it up while Wade was continuing with more wiring on Big Red. This time for a back-up light. He's had it since about the time he bought Big Red 2 years ago and because the reversing light switch wasn't working didn't install it till now.

Then, the call I'd been waiting for, the three cars blocking the Coupe in could be moved. That done drove the Coupe outside and proceeded to clean off the blue protection finish on the WWW's and tyre sidewalls. Looks a hell of a lot better now with white, rather than blue, sides on the tyres. That done was able to take the Coupe for a test drive around Wade's circuit, with Wade along as the riding mechanic. Then took the Coupe home with Wade following so I could get back to the workshop to pick up my daily driver. Had a moment on the way home because the O/D is playing up and wouldn't kick down and stalled it on a VERY steep hill. Managed to get going again but will lock out the O/D until the Coupe goes in for it's engine rebuild coupled with clutch/trans/OD work as required.

On Wades side of things he gave me a memory stick containing some pic's of the front of his Super 8 cam, in response to a post in the General Forum,https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=3289&post_id=35081#forumpost35081 because he couldn't get his pic's to load on PackardInfo. There are also some pic's of Barry's '38 V12 Club Sedan from when it arrived in Oz last week. And Barry now's the time to get it into the Owner Registry, not to forget your '37 120 too! Wade also rang the guy painting his '34 and has arranged to pick up the body and doors next Tuesday. I've been waiting a long time for the day I'll finally see the '34 Club Sedan in the metal. The mudguards(fenders) and bonnet(hood) still require painting but with the body back Wade will be able to continue to progress the '34 re-build.

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And John, with my new radials the steering on the Coupe has improved markedly, the tendency to wander at will appears a thing of the past. Saying that, it was a short drive so with a few longer runs on the week-end it'll be put properly to the test then.

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I'm back, and Wade gave me a memory stick with a couple of his cam pic's on it. Hope this helps answer your query.

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And for including your '55 Clipper Super Touring Sedan in the Registry. Looks a good buy.