Learning Electrics

I'd like some suggestions how best to learn about the electrical system on the 'B. I'm pretty comfortable with the basic mechanical systems, but as I tinker with this '71 roadster, it's becoming painfully obvious I don't have a clue about electrics. For example, I decided to replace my emergency flasher switch with a new, non-stock switch. Okay, I'm stumped initially that I'm going from a 4-post switch to a 2, and I figure out that the two sides of the car are wired separately into the flasher, and that I lose my turn signals if I wire them together into one two-post switch. A little slow, but I'm learning. So then, the new switch has its own illumination, so I figure I'll run an accessory wire so the switch lights up when engaged. Cool. Except, the 'accessory' wire I picked from the dash location (as I recall, the little map light that I removed) causes me to hear the fuel pump going on and off when the flasher is turned on (even if the key is turned off). Good grief!

I need to fix the things that don't work, like the hi beams, but I don't want to turn the wiring harness into a smoking glob of plastic and copper. Suggestion on a good resource to learn about the system, as a whole, and how to troubleshoot it?

Thanks.

Rick Astley's book has it all!!
Go to Amazon and search "MGB Electricals Systems",
I'd put the link in but it;s kinda long.
Mike

I bought this book a few weeks ago, and it's one of the best I have in my library.....

MGB Electrical Systems

The three best sources of information in my opinion:
1. Rick Astley's MGB Electrical Systems book
http://www.amazon.com/MGB-Electrical-Systems-Essential-Manual/dp/1845840577/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258401177&sr=8-2
2. The Advance Auto Wire diagrams
http://www.advanceautowire.com/schematics.htm
3. Searches on this site for the wisdom and experience of all that've gone before us...

x2 to all of the above..Great book..

Thanks muchly.

Buy the book, print the diagram(s). I spent 3 hours on 3 nights on 3 six-packs trying to to get turn signals to work. The fourth night I had a wiring diagram and one beer. I fixed it! That's when I realized (again) working on cars should be fun instead of a task.

Advanced Auto Wire has THE BEST diagrams I've seen. Print them out in 11x17 format (full color) and laminate it.
Small piece of advice about "experimenting" with wiring-you may become your own DPO if you're not careful.

As far as enlarging the diagrams is concerned, I had to white-out the copyright and make a copy before I took it to Kinkos to have it enlarged. They wouldn't make an enlargement otherwise.

As everyone else is saying, get the schematic diagrams. From there fix all the stuff that isn't working. You'll learn basic electronics by doing that and then once everything is working and you have a solid grasp on electrics you can begin adding things to the harness. The books everyone's mentioning are good ways to learn but you'll learn the most by actually trying to fix it. Either way you're in for a treat and you're going to hate wires very soon. Good luck :)