Question about fuses
Thread Starter
0 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 12
Hey guys,
If I am putting a fuse near the battery and then splitting the power via a distro block into 2, do I really need to use a fused distro block or can I get away with just a fuse at the battery and a normal distro?
Thanks guys
[img]graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]
If I am putting a fuse near the battery and then splitting the power via a distro block into 2, do I really need to use a fused distro block or can I get away with just a fuse at the battery and a normal distro?
Thanks guys
[img]graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]
Yes but if you drop to a smaller awg wire from the block you have to protect the smaller wire with the correct fuse size.
Basisally if you run 4 awg to the block and the same from the block to youre amps you'll be ok.
Fuse block is always a good idea for added protection, IMO
[ January 25, 2005, 04:52 PM: Message edited by: kickerolds ]
Basisally if you run 4 awg to the block and the same from the block to youre amps you'll be ok.
Fuse block is always a good idea for added protection, IMO
[ January 25, 2005, 04:52 PM: Message edited by: kickerolds ]
Say what.....
"Yes but if you drop to a smaller awg wire from the block you have to protect the smaller wire with the correct fuse size."
This is wrong, The purpose of the fuse at the battery is to protect the vehicle (or in some case the amp with no fuse in it). If the user is dropping to a smaller guage wire after a distro block that is inside of the vehicle, it does not need to have it's own separate fuse on it. A wire does not draw current all on it's own, it doesn't care about what size the wire is. It is up to the device attached to it that determines the current draw.
The purpose of a fused distro block was for those great amplifiers that did not have built in fuses (like Rockfords and old Orions, Alphatoasters etc.)
"Yes but if you drop to a smaller awg wire from the block you have to protect the smaller wire with the correct fuse size."
This is wrong, The purpose of the fuse at the battery is to protect the vehicle (or in some case the amp with no fuse in it). If the user is dropping to a smaller guage wire after a distro block that is inside of the vehicle, it does not need to have it's own separate fuse on it. A wire does not draw current all on it's own, it doesn't care about what size the wire is. It is up to the device attached to it that determines the current draw.
The purpose of a fused distro block was for those great amplifiers that did not have built in fuses (like Rockfords and old Orions, Alphatoasters etc.)
500 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 832
This is the set up for expample
1awg - Distro = 2 4awgs
The fuse on the 1awg is good for the 1awg wire if there is a abnormally huge amount of power being pulled through the wire.
You need smaller ones on the 4awg beause the 4awg wire will burn and set fire way before the 1awg does. So to prevent that, you fuse the 4awg so the fuses blow instead of your car burning down.
And its the "device attached" that may malfunction and accidently pull way too much power. Or if you short out or something.
Regardless, I only use one fuse on my main wire and my distro is abou 5" from my amps. No worries
[ January 25, 2005, 08:22 PM: Message edited by: 13idnyk ]
1awg - Distro = 2 4awgs
The fuse on the 1awg is good for the 1awg wire if there is a abnormally huge amount of power being pulled through the wire.
You need smaller ones on the 4awg beause the 4awg wire will burn and set fire way before the 1awg does. So to prevent that, you fuse the 4awg so the fuses blow instead of your car burning down.
And its the "device attached" that may malfunction and accidently pull way too much power. Or if you short out or something.
Regardless, I only use one fuse on my main wire and my distro is abou 5" from my amps. No worries
[ January 25, 2005, 08:22 PM: Message edited by: 13idnyk ]
Originally posted by MR2NR:
Say what.....
"Yes but if you drop to a smaller awg wire from the block you have to protect the smaller wire with the correct fuse size."
This is wrong, The purpose of the fuse at the battery is to protect the vehicle (or in some case the amp with no fuse in it). If the user is dropping to a smaller guage wire after a distro block that is inside of the vehicle, it does not need to have it's own separate fuse on it. A wire does not draw current all on it's own, it doesn't care about what size the wire is. It is up to the device attached to it that determines the current draw.
The purpose of a fused distro block was for those great amplifiers that did not have built in fuses (like Rockfords and old Orions, Alphatoasters etc.)
Say what.....
"Yes but if you drop to a smaller awg wire from the block you have to protect the smaller wire with the correct fuse size."
This is wrong, The purpose of the fuse at the battery is to protect the vehicle (or in some case the amp with no fuse in it). If the user is dropping to a smaller guage wire after a distro block that is inside of the vehicle, it does not need to have it's own separate fuse on it. A wire does not draw current all on it's own, it doesn't care about what size the wire is. It is up to the device attached to it that determines the current draw.
The purpose of a fused distro block was for those great amplifiers that did not have built in fuses (like Rockfords and old Orions, Alphatoasters etc.)
If you run 4 awg from the battery fused @125amps to youre dis block and run 8 awg from youre block to youre amps and youre wire gets pinched in the firwall somewere,GUESS WHAT.....youre 8 awg wire will lite youre car on fire b4 youre 125amp fuse blows!
I hope you carry some fire protection in youre car.....
You really are supposed to fuse at any junction.... in reality the fuse for the 8awg would blow (slightly) sooner then the one at the battery... so you may have (slightly) less chance of damaging something... also, you only have to buy a small fuse as opposed to a big ANL if it blows, and youve only lost power to one amp untill its replaced....
In practice I agree that one fuse at the battery is enough... and thats all I use... [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]
In practice I agree that one fuse at the battery is enough... and thats all I use... [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]
Originally posted by slow/n\low:
^ [img]graemlins/freak.gif[/img]
Thats all I got to say about that.
Oh wait......
you think 125 amps will melt a 8AWG wire before the fuse blows?
^ [img]graemlins/freak.gif[/img]
Thats all I got to say about that.
Oh wait......
you think 125 amps will melt a 8AWG wire before the fuse blows?
Originally posted by slow/n\low:
^ [img]graemlins/freak.gif[/img]
Thats all I got to say about that.
Oh wait......
you think 125 amps will melt a 8AWG wire before the fuse blows?
^ [img]graemlins/freak.gif[/img]
Thats all I got to say about that.
Oh wait......
you think 125 amps will melt a 8AWG wire before the fuse blows?
Is the 15 dollars for a fused dis block gonna kill me,NO and the added protection definetly cant hurt.
I ALWAYS use a fused block,If you choose not to [img]graemlins/dunno.gif[/img] Its youre choice.
[ January 26, 2005, 08:12 PM: Message edited by: kickerolds ]
Nope it can't hurt at all. BTW, the purpose of the fuse at the battery is not to protect the wire that you just paid $80.00 for, it is to protect the vehicle. If you protect the vehicle, you protect the wire.
