Fuse Size
- Thread starter dmaxweb
- Start date
Patrick L.
Well-known member
yep, I think most fellas use 25 or 30..
Jack '29 Sport Coupe
Well-known member
What the other guys said.
Jack
Jack
Steve Ciccalone
Well-known member
I only have original generators, no alternators or anything special in the genny. I use 20 amp fuses.
Ron in Quincy
Well-known member
Same here Steve, I use 20 Amp. Would rather blow a fuse than burn up wiring.
Ron
Ron
steve s
Well-known member
Two considerations: maximum current draw if everything is turned on at once and smallest wire gauge that might part of a short circuit.
Turn on your headlights, turn signals, electric wiper, dash light, radio?, step on brakes, blow the horn, and then measure the amperage. Your fuse should be larger than that number, so you don't have a sudden blackout at a most inconvenient time.
Google "fuses wire gauge" and you can see what fuse rating is appropriate for different wire sizes. Remember, it is the wiring and not the equipment that the fuses protect: the danger is the insulation, or something in contact, catching catching fire. A 30-amp fuse will allow 12-guage and smaller wire to smoke without blowing.
So, if you are using only the fuse-block fuse, you are in sort of a bind. I urge you to avoid the slow-blow fuses. As a kid, I had a lot of smoke-events, but was lucky to catch the problem in time. Another hobby of mine is model railroading, and I have been amazed, and again lucky, to notice that it only takes a second or so for a Lionel ZW transformer with derailed car to turn a wire red hot and burn off the insulation. I've got lots of goodies in my car, and use a 40-amp main fuse and numerous smaller fuses in specific circuits, but that's just me.
Steve
Turn on your headlights, turn signals, electric wiper, dash light, radio?, step on brakes, blow the horn, and then measure the amperage. Your fuse should be larger than that number, so you don't have a sudden blackout at a most inconvenient time.
Google "fuses wire gauge" and you can see what fuse rating is appropriate for different wire sizes. Remember, it is the wiring and not the equipment that the fuses protect: the danger is the insulation, or something in contact, catching catching fire. A 30-amp fuse will allow 12-guage and smaller wire to smoke without blowing.
So, if you are using only the fuse-block fuse, you are in sort of a bind. I urge you to avoid the slow-blow fuses. As a kid, I had a lot of smoke-events, but was lucky to catch the problem in time. Another hobby of mine is model railroading, and I have been amazed, and again lucky, to notice that it only takes a second or so for a Lionel ZW transformer with derailed car to turn a wire red hot and burn off the insulation. I've got lots of goodies in my car, and use a 40-amp main fuse and numerous smaller fuses in specific circuits, but that's just me.
Steve