Fuse didn't Blow! Nearly a Fire!!

[mbianka]

Probably always a good idea to periodically remove inspect and clean the fuse contacts.

[Teknav]

In a salt/sea water environment, an electrical inspection should be adequate every 4 months.

Mauritz

[goboatingnow]

consider HRCI fuses, these are available in the sizes you need , arnt expensive and have sufficient interrupt rating, there are many types of cylinderic fuses that have teh IR you need , yet arnt as expensive as ANL or ANN fuses ,

Take every car type ATC fuse out of the boat and have a ritual burning of them on the dockside.

Dave

[goboatingnow]

note that there are also a range of specific PV panel fuses

see Cooper Bussmann Solar PV Fuses
dave

[Pelorus32]

Originally Posted by btrayfors

Exactly.

[snip]
Consider the following.

Solar panel output 15A @ 12VDC. Length of one-way run of wire: 20ft (not at all uncommon on a boat).

An AWG14 wire would have a 13% voltage drop, i.e., 1.56 volt drop, with only 10.4 volts at the load end.

An AWG12 wire would have an 8% drop, or almost one volt drop.

It's not until you get to AWG8 when the percentage drop nears 3%.

AWG6 would be better in a solar circuit (2% voltage drop), and AWG4 would be even better (1.27% voltage drop).

In these types of circuits, it's voltage drop that really matters, considering current load and total circuit length.

Ampacity? Not so much!

Bill

G'day Bill,

do you have a calculation method or tables to calculate voltage drop by wire size and length? I'd be very interested in a reference because it's a question I often want to answer.

Regards
Mike

[btrayfors]

Originally Posted by Pelorus32

G'day Bill,

do you have a calculation method or tables to calculate voltage drop by wire size and length? I'd be very interested in a reference because it's a question I often want to answer.

Regards
Mike

Sure. There are dozens of them. Just Google "voltage drop calculator".

One that I like best is on the Genuinedealz.com website:

Voltage Drop Calculator, Amperage Tables, Wire and Cable Technical information

It has both the calculator and ampacity tables. Very handy.

And, should you need any wire or electrical stuff, this is an excellent place to order from. Good prices, free shipping (in U.S.), and very good service.

Bill

[Bash]

Originally Posted by Teknav

In a salt/sea water environment, an electrical inspection should be adequate every 4 months.

Really? A fellow at West Marine just told me that I should lay my anchor chain out once a month to inspect it. And my mechanic says I should check the oil every time I want to use the diesel. And my rigger says....

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by Bash

Really? A fellow at West Marine just told me that I should lay my anchor chain out once a month to inspect it. And my mechanic says I should check the oil every time I want to use the diesel. And my rigger says....

Then you could also go on to your Dentist, Doctor and Nutritionists recommendations too. We'd never leave the dock or get out of bed for that matter...

[muskoka]

Originally Posted by Bash

Really? A fellow at West Marine just told me that I should lay my anchor chain out once a month to inspect it. And my mechanic says I should check the oil every time I want to use the diesel. And my rigger says....

Don't ask the barber if you need a haircut.....

[MarkJ]

See muskoka's post re Blue Sea fuse holder (the 30A)

I found one in Budget Marine at USD$38 plus fuse $5.
I pulled the box apart in the shop and found there was F'All inside.

So I comely back homey to the Sea Life of my dreams and made my own.

This photos shows it with the old fuse, but I was thinking of useing the bigger Maxi fuse in it (and 40 amps)

This way I could run the AWG 4 lead into it, and out of it. Thus discarding the 4 inches of AWG 12.

I will put it in a pattress box (i.e. an old Coke bottle)

Whadda ya reckon? Apart from not having a brand name on it whats wrong with it?

[model 10]

Cruisers. Well there is no lock washer for one thing and you have dissimilar metal.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Guy

Cruisers. Well there is no lock washer for one thing and you have dissimilar metal.

The Blueseas has the same metals... a SS base and SS set screws.... so wheres the difference?

and I can use a lock washer.


Next objection?

[Sailmonkey]

That qualifies as Ghetto fabulous!!!

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Next objection?

you are going to need those bolts for something else someday

[svlamorocha]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

See muskoka's post re Blue Sea fuse holder (the 30A)


Whadda ya reckon? Apart from not having a brand name on it whats wrong with it?

You may want to add some (non-conducting but thermostable) piece of something that is stronger than the plastic and will ensure that the two bolts will not touch each other if the fuse heats up and the yellow (thermoplastic?) plastic melts. Just being devil´s advocate!
C