Autonatomy | Power Distribution & Ground Circuits

LESSON 01Interactive fundamentals → technician practice

VIRTUAL LAB / 12.6-V VEHICLE

Power Distribution Center

SIMULATION · NOT OEM DATA

Three parallel branches share the battery feed. Headlamp and horn share ground G101; the blower returns through G102. Click any numbered test point to place the red meter lead there.

Battery12.60 V

Distribution bus— V

Total current— A

G101 above B−— V

energized feedground returninterrupted path①–⑯ clickable test points

Diagram is conceptual; wires are not to scale. Color indicates a modeled conducting path, not measured voltage or the vehicle's real wire color.

Operate each circuit

Headlamp S1

Horn S2

Blower S3

Inject a fault

VIRTUAL DMMDC VOLTS

12.60 V

Red lead (+)Black lead (−)

Select any two nodes. Voltage reading = red-node potential minus black-node potential. For a voltage-drop test, put the probes across the section under test while current is flowing.

TRACE THE CURRENT PATH

Find the shared point

Choose a trace. Highlighted sections show the intended current path when that load is operating; an injected fault may interrupt it.

The headlamp and horn share the battery feed and G101. A fault at either shared point can affect more than one load.

THE CHALLENGER / DIAGNOSTIC BAY

Four fault-finding missions

Reproduce each condition in the lab, make at least one voltage measurement, then answer. Each mission has its own solution and reasoning.

FINAL KNOWLEDGE CHECK

Prove you can follow both paths

Six questions. Score at least 5/6 to pass. Answers display explanations immediately.

Answer all six questions to see your score.