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Author
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Topic: Question about when to use inline fuse?
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90FoX
FoX
Member # 1974
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posted
 
 
So I'm no expert on mobile electronics but I'm also not clueless.
I was wonder if I use a 30 amp 12v relay to wire up some mobile electronics would I need a inline fuse?
<--- noob ![[Cool]](cool.gif)
Posts: 5364 | From: Shooting Skeet | Registered: Oct 2002
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MauriSSio
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Member # 9943
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posted
i guess if you wanted to protect the relay,yes, thats all i can really think of.
Posts: 503 | Registered: Apr 2010
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90FoX
FoX
Member # 1974
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posted
I thought the relay acted as a fuse in addition to being a switch ![[Confused]](confused.gif) I don't care much about the relay as much as I care about the electronics
Posts: 5364 | From: Shooting Skeet | Registered: Oct 2002
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MauriSSio
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Member # 9943
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by 90FoX:
I thought the relay acted as a fuse in addition to being a switch I don't care much about the relay as much as I care about the electronics
yeah i wass figuring the same thing.
Posts: 503 | Registered: Apr 2010
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Sydewayz_Stan
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Member # 10217
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posted
I run fuses just to be safe but not necessary.
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-90 Vert-SOLD
-91 Notch-SOLD
-2000 Explorer 5.0-SOLD
-72 Maverick-SOLD
-2004 GT, vortech V2 si, 10 psi-
-2002 F150 supercrew-
Posts: 3432 | From: 707 vallejo/richmond 510 | Registered: Aug 2010
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*Als50*
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Member # 6003
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posted
Yes, It's good insurance against burning out your amps.
Posts: 1897 | From: La Bahia... | Registered: Sep 2005
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MauriSSio
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Member # 9943
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by Als50:
Yes, It's good insurance against burning out your amps.
wouldnt the first and only thing that could potentially burn out be the relay itself??
Posts: 503 | Registered: Apr 2010
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Duncan Motors
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Member # 7045
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posted
fuses are highly recommend . a relay is a relay, a fuse is a fuse, the fuse should be ran close off the battery,
Posts: 6310 | From: Vallejo | Registered: Sep 2006
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wilit
Mustang Messiah
Member # 3367
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posted
Yes, run a fuse. You want to place the fuse as close to the power source (battery) as possible. The fuse protects the circuit from drawing too much power. If you have a fault between the battery and the relay and no fuse, power is going to be constantly supplied and continue to ground out, possibly causing a fire. Relays shouldn't be relied on to act as a fuse either. Given the quality of the relay and the amount of power surging through it, I've seen relay contacts weld together. If you have a fault in any part of a circuit with a welded relay and no fuse, the circuit will continue to supply power to the ground fault.
[ March 04, 2011, 02:04 PM: Message edited by: wilit ]
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"If a man hasn't found something worth dying for, he isn't fit to live." - Martin Luther King Jr.
Posts: 4793 | From: 37.78514° North 122.40100° West | Registered: Oct 2003
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90FoX
FoX
Member # 1974
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posted
Good info ^^^
Thanks for the info guys ![[patriot]](graemlins/patriot.gif)
[ March 04, 2011, 06:05 PM: Message edited by: 90FoX ]
Posts: 5364 | From: Shooting Skeet | Registered: Oct 2002
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wilit
Mustang Messiah
Member # 3367
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posted
Another thing about fuses, you want to make sure you accurately size it for the load of the circuit. Let's say you're running a fuel pump that draws a max of 8amps. As a general rule of thumb, you want that 8amp draw to be 80% of the fuse rating. So 8 x 1.20 = 9.6A, so you'd want to use a 10A fuse. Too large of a fuse could also cause problems. If your wire is sized for only a 10A load, but you have a 30A fuse, you can overload the wire before the fuse pops and the wire can start to melt, possibly starting a fire or cause a ground fault.
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"If a man hasn't found something worth dying for, he isn't fit to live." - Martin Luther King Jr.
Posts: 4793 | From: 37.78514° North 122.40100° West | Registered: Oct 2003
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93coupessp
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Member # 8418
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posted
once you go up to 30 amp you should use an automotive breaker instead of a fuse
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89 gt project
09 f250 diesel 605hp
14 cts-v
13 harley fxdb 103ci
Posts: 1919 | From: Hell | Registered: May 2008
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RRRCobraSC281
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Member # 7086
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posted
Plus for 30A you should use 10 gauge wire. 12 gauge at the least.
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Project 93GT500 has started
90 Coyote Coupe (sold)
88 Mach 1 Coupe MM&FF 6/14 (sold)
65 FFR Cobra (sold)
Posts: 1746 | From: Fremont, CA | Registered: Sep 2006
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92stangLX
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Member # 3252
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by wilit:
Another thing about fuses, you want to make sure you accurately size it for the load of the circuit. Let's say you're running a fuel pump that draws a max of 8amps. As a general rule of thumb, you want that 8amp draw to be 80% of the fuse rating. So 8 x 1.20 = 9.6A, so you'd want to use a 10A fuse. Too large of a fuse could also cause problems. If your wire is sized for only a 10A load, but you have a 30A fuse, you can overload the wire before the fuse pops and the wire can start to melt, possibly starting a fire or cause a ground fault.
Listen to this man ^ ^ ^
Posts: 5302 | From: San Francisco | Registered: Sep 2003
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