What fuse and where to get ...

[Bumpy]

Just wondering what value of fuse should I use and where can I get a good one from?

I'm running 2 amps, 1 '4' channel 400 watt, and 1 '2' channel 800 watt amp.

I'm guessing mad sounds or trends should have some, and where is a good place to mount it?

Just asking, cause running a thick cable from the battery to the boot, no fuse in it at the moment, bit of a fire hazard.

[deaf_rattle]

repco sell them, or most audio places should.

I normally run the highest amp ones i can find, because if it shorts its going to blow anyway.

someone will probably say thats a bad idea, but ive never had any troubles.

Mount it up the front near the battery.

[Andy]

Surplustronics, Jaycar and DSE all have fuses and fuse holders for sale.

Easiest way to find out the correct fuse value is to add up all fuses in the devices you are connecting through that power cable (eg your if amp A is 30A and amp B is 40A, you need 70A fuse or larger).

You should be able to get away with the following type of fuse holder type
http://www.surplustronics.co.nz/shop/product-PSF090F.html

That fuse type has fuses up to 80A.

Make sure you get something that is water proofed.

[Alex B]

As above has said, have a look see on your amps, add up the fuseing values and buy a fuse thats say 10A above.

[deaf_rattle]

10amps above? i think you will find it will eventually blow.
its not good having the fuse just above what you want. its going to blow if it shorts even if you had a 150amp fuse.

[Bling]

yes, but whats the whole point of a fuse?

you want the main fuse to blow first so that no damage / fuse blowing is done to your audio equipment.

having a really high amp fuse means you'll blow every other fuse first surely? which is more expensive to replace, every fuse or just the one?

my2c

[Alex B]

So your saying my amp with 90A worth of fuseing is pulling 90A all the time?? I think not, infact i think its hardly ever pulling that. 10A above will be fine, that fuse is there to protect the cable not the audio equipment. If you ran say a 200A fuse with 8 gauge cable, your cable COULD heat up and burst into flames before the fuse goes. Say you ran a Caliber CA2000D+ at 1 ohm (1250RMS) with 8 gauge and a 200A fuse, you have pretty much just turned that 8 gauge cable into a big heater,and may as well have no fuseing. The cable will melt, and will burn.

[deaf_rattle]

that is true, but i assumed that people would buy the right sized cable for their application.

if fuses get close to their limit they will blow eventually (even outside of 10amps)

the amp fuses wont normally blow unless you have done something wrong, so i try to save myself having to even change one fuse.. maybe im lazy

And i cant see where i said a 90amp fuse was having 90amps drawn through it all the time.

[Andy]

Hi bumpy,

I'd suggest having a quick read through the following link, there is alot of useful informations on fuses in there.

http://www.bcae1.com/fuses.htm

Do you know what AWG your power cable is? There is a table in the above site showing the maximum recommanded fuse amount to use on different cable sizes.

[Alex B]

And i cant see where i said a 90amp fuse was having 90amps drawn through it all the time.

What i was meaning was having a fuse 10A above what the amp is rated is more than a 10A tollerance, because your going to be pulling less than what the amp is rated at most of the time. I run one of my amps in my set-up with a 100A fuse, amp is 90A rated, has never blown yet after a year.

[deaf_rattle]

interesting

I had fuses blowing left right and centre and there was was a 10amp tolerance, it would last about a month before it would blow.

I assumed that getting close to that "buffer" was enough to heat up and weaken the fusible link.

Only reason i got the smaller fuse is because the larger ones were out of stock.

[Bumpy]

Hey cheers guys, thanks for the info. I'm into my electronics and stuff, but never really thought about 'the most important thing'. Went to mad sounds and got (ripped off) a fuse holder and a 60Amp fuse for $25.

Will see how the 60Amp fuse holds out, dont have my music up so loud now as turning into a grandad at 25!

Cheers,

Shane.

[Mr.Phreak]

that is true, but i assumed that people would buy the right sized cable for their application.

And I assume that people buy the right value fuse for their application too

[deaf_rattle]

that is true, but i assumed that people would buy the right sized cable for their application.

And I assume that people buy the right value fuse for their application too

please state why my fuse was incorrect? you dont know what size it was, or the application.

[deaf_rattle]

anyway...Mr_phreak can go find someone else to play with.

I found this which maybe useful to you
http://www.bcae1.com/wire.htm

Wire Gauge Recommended
Maximum Fuse Size
00 awg 400 amps
0 awg 325 amps
1 awg 250 amps
2 awg 200 amps
4 awg 125 amps
6 awg 80 amps
8 awg 50 amps
10 awg 30 amps
12 awg 20 amps
14 awg 15 amps
16 awg 7.5 amps

[Mr.Phreak]

please state why my fuse was incorrect? you dont know what size it was, or the application.

A touch defensive

And congrats on finding something that's already been posted above

[deaf_rattle]

please state why my fuse was incorrect? you dont know what size it was, or the application.

A touch defensive

And congrats on finding something that's already been posted above

sorry i dont read everything on the internet
still no come back huh? oh well window closed game over.

[Alex B]

^ Always just got to have the last word

[deaf_rattle]

ok

[Mr.Phreak]

Jesus, you're a dick