Yes -- the aging of the electrical connections in the van will lead to
increased resistance and reduced current. Spots where the resistance is
high will be the warmer spots as heating is proportional to current and
resistance.

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
Bend, OR
KG6RCR

On 10/1/2009 3:35 PM Kim Brennan wrote:

> Electrical circuits used in our Vanagons use copper wiring, with
> connectors usually of brass. Both copper and brass as subject to
> corrision (especially in the presence of water). As they corrode, less
> metal is available to carry the electrical current (leading to higher
> resistance in the circuit.) Higher resistance means that some of the
> current goes into generating heat. Heat on wiring can lead to melting
> of the insulation. This in turn can expose more of the wiring to
> corrosion....
>
> All of this takes time (and usually water).
>
> I'm not positive as to what metal the fuses are made of, tin, aluminum
> or something. I've seen surface corrosion on them as well.
>
> With aluminum (and I believe tin), the surface oxidation tends to
> prevent further corrosion. This is not true in the case of copper or
> brass. However, aluminum oxide is a very poor conductor of electricity
> and has a fairly high resistance (and remember that thing above where
> resistance leads to heat?)
>
>
> On Sep 30, 2009, at 1:16 AM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
>
>> (If someone wants to chime in here with a description of how
>> electrical
>> bits in something simple like the brake light circuit can age in
>> such a
>> way that the on current is greater in an older van than in a new
>> one, it
>> would be helpful.)
>