mystery - electrical connector

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Lemsteraak.

[belizesailor]

Terminal blocks can be really handy for testing purposes...especially just before high load devices. What is this connected too?

If you are worried about someone trying to install a fuse in the future then just stick a "No Fuse" label in between the terminals. You cant fix stoopid.

[captain465]

How about just replacing it with a standard terminal block?

[boatman12]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Is possible.

Cut in half, separate the two halves by say half a inch or more and remount. Fuse will no longer fit between the studs.

But then there will be only one mounting screw in each half. If you really feel the need to make it so a fuse won't fit, glue a block of plastic in the middle.

Anyone dumb enough to put a fuse in that holder shouldn't be allowed to work on boats.

[boatman12]

Originally Posted by captain465

How about just replacing it with a standard terminal block?

Terminal blocks that size are available but not easy to find. There's nothing wrong with this installation and no point in spending time and money to change it.

Several years ago I had to replace my windlass away from home and away from a marine supply store. I needed something like that but had nothing. I used two 1/4 X 20 bolts and nuts, taped them up and strapped them so they couldn't touch each other. It's still that way. I had forgotten about it until this thread.

[TreblePlink]

I think it's fine. Only a complete idiot would try to place a fuse across what is obviously high current battery voltage.

[KyleJulius]

Hello all,

I love the site so far!

This is a common connector in mobile equipment systems. It is meant to fuse 1 leg only, so this would be for the positive or negative (usually negative in Canada) for DC, or the 120 Volt wite in an AC system.

Wouldn’t want to wire in parallel! Only wire this type of holder in series!

Hope this helps,

[Locquatious]

It might be for a TVS that would protect the fed circuit from voltage spikes by shunting over-voltage to ground. Also known as a surge protector.

[BlackHeron]

Originally Posted by boatman12

Terminal blocks that size are available but not easy to find. There's nothing wrong with this installation and no point in spending time and money to change it.

Several years ago I had to replace my windlass away from home and away from a marine supply store. I needed something like that but had nothing. I used two 1/4 X 20 bolts and nuts, taped them up and strapped them so they couldn't touch each other. It's still that way. I had forgotten about it until this thread.

This is how we sometimes make up motor joints in large HP 3-phase electric motors. There are various types of filler tapes in different thicknesses, and finally the outer layer is often wrapped in "friction tape" to keep the bolted joint from rubbing against other joints and the inside of the junction box on the motor and chaffing.


A hot tip for doing this is wrap the firat layer of tape backwards so the ball of tape can be simply sliced off with a razor knife and the threads will not be gummed up with melted tape adhesive. Otherwise they will need ro be cut if it needs to come apart someday.

The bolt itself can be a special electrical "split bolt" that squeezes the wires together or standard crimped wire lugs bolted together with a bolt, nut, and washers back to back. I carry a couple of split bolts onboard just in case such an emergency repair needs to be made at sea.

[Cheechako]

Looks fine. A HD fuse holder, less the fuse is being used as a junction terminal.

[tkeithlu]

I wouldn't worry about it. It's doing a good job, and is covered. You're the owner and you know what it is. If the boat is eventually sold and the next owner is so clueless that he/she puts a fuse across a battery circuit, he/she will get a very quick education.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

I wouldn't worry about it. It's doing a good job, and is covered. You're the owner and you know what it is.

I vote for this answer.

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

If the boat is eventually sold and the next owner is so clueless that he/she puts a fuse across a battery circuit, he/she will get a very quick education.

If a new owner tries to install a fuse with the circuit hot I guarantee he/she will only try that once. Fuse will indeed blow but probably accompanied by a nice spark.

[hellosailor]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Or follow the rules they teach at Annapolis:
1-If it moves, salute it.
2-If it doesn't move but can be moved, move it.
3-If you can't move it, paint it.

A good coat of white bilge paint might be in order.

[Reefmagnet]

Since you are relocating the wires anyway and would prefer a quasi-professional job, you can re-purpose the fuse as a fuse(!) on the positive line and then add a battery monitor and use the shunt on the negative line to rejoin the wires. alternatively, single stud connection points, especially on the negative terminal, can be very handy.

[CarinaPDX]

If you really feel the need to tidy things up just install a couple of butt crimps with adhesive-lined heat shrink. Otherwise don't worry about it.

Greg