The entire electrical system has been designed and implemented with a view to the most up-to-date safety and protection standards and is particularly well-protected against fire.

Two main types of protection are provided:

• active protection, to reduce possible fault causes at source;

• passive protection, to minimise the effects of a fault.

The first category covers careful design of wiring circuits, including well thought-out positioning and fastening and the definition of properly shielded and protected layouts.

All operations designed to reduce or interrupt faulty currents (overloading or short circuits) are included in passive protection.

Power is distributed via the junction units and/or fuses boxes, located on the battery, in the engine compartment, in the Body Computer and in the optional wiring control unit, connected to control elements (relay switches and static actuators) to ensure maximum electrical protection and minimum complexity.

The Body Computer under the dashboard is connected via special multifunction connectors in the various wirings and protects the secondary load lines via dedicated fuses. A series of built-in relays operates these circuits.

The relays in the Body Computer are incorporated into the control unit itself; therefore no type of operation can be carried out (replacement, removal, etc.).

The ratings of all fuses in the system have been selected according to the nominal power uptake of any loads that may be activated simultaneously and to ensure cut-in in the case of a general short-circuit.

All systems and electrical equipment are supplied by the battery at a voltage of 12V.

The battery is, in turn, recharged by the alternator during engine operation.

    See E5010 STARTING AND RECHARING

Some circuits are continuously supplied, even with the car at a standstill and the key out because they are connected directly to the battery.

Other circuits are supplied by turning the ignition key to various positions:

• when the ignition key is inserted and turned to the MAR-ON position, numerous circuits are supplied - these are known as ignition-operated (INT and 15/54 lines with the power supply maintained even during starting and INT/A, whose power supply is interrupted during starting);

• the second position - AVV (starting) - supplies the starter, disconnecting some other circuits (those which absorb the most power, "INT/A" line) thereby ensuring the maximum current flow to the starter;

The lines that distribute power to the various appliances are represented in the wiring diagrams for the various functions and systems. This general diagram shows all the lines as they leave the battery and junction units. Refer to specific diagrams for more details.