Under fuse box found this gizmo what is it?

[Mikes Z car]

I found what looks like to me like a small coil of wire that could be a choke of some kind connected in the fuse box in series with the dome light circuit in my 70 240Z. It has electrician's tape on it so I don't think the factory put it there. From the attached picture can anyone tell me of what this could be? This is really winging it here but the only thing I can think of that might be connected is an auto arming alarm I used to have on a previous 240 that sensed voltage changes like when the dome light comes on, maybe the coil enhances a voltage change from inductive kick when the door is open to ensure the alarm is triggered?

Thanks for any ideas. I plan on removing it and shorting it out if no one sees a reason not to.

Edited July 12, 2009 by Mikes Z car
picture adjust

[cbudvet]

Sorry but there is no picture.

[Mikes Z car]

Sorry, should be there now, I think I exceeded the max file size at first.

[hls30.com]

I would say you are right, some kind of aaftermarket choke, probably if you follow the wires it is connected to, you will find either the reason it is there, or evidence of the reason it is there...more often than not something to do with the audio system-possibly an easy tie in for an early aftermarket amp, or a full time power connection.

Will

[lmcguffin]

Mike, I think your original assessment is the likely answer as it looks to be a current transformer. It's hard to tell, but there appears to be a connection to the small winding wire, which would generate a proportional current to the primary current flowing thru the heavier wire in the center. Probably used to detect current flow in the dome light circuit for an alarm system, etc. If it were a choke coil used to attenuate alternator noise for an audio device then it would be in series only without the seconday connection.

[Mikes Z car]

I did notice there seems to be a connection on the gizmo that isn't being used but the wire is so small I can't tell for sure.

[FastWoman]

The device is probably a sensor if: (1) There are 4 wires total, with two being large and two being fine. (2) There is connectivity between the two fine wires and between the two coarse wires, but not between any fine wire and any coarse wire. Of course the part looks a bit toasty, so there could be connectivity where there shouldn't be and no connectivity where there should be. ;-)

If it's a sensor, it's not hooked up to anything, so you don't need it. If it's a choke (not likely, because the windings are too fine), then you also don't need it, because there is no reason to protect a dome light bulb from electrical noise. I'd just remove it.

[ToXIc]

the flux capacitor :laugh:

[Mikes Z car]

If it is truly a flux capacitor I am going to put it in my time machine...

[FastWoman]

Or put it up on Ebay for some lucky Delorean owner.

[Walter Moore]

It does look like some kind of current transformer based sensor. It also looks homemade, and dangerously old. I vote that you hack it out.