Message text written by Dan Masters
>fuses are 17 amp current rated, 35amp blow rated.<
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Dan,
Maybe a 20 or 25 amp slow-blow would give a good match?
It would appear that the fuses are rated too high for the installed
wiring as delivered for the factory (17 amp continuous). I wonder
why they did this when they would be creating a fire hazard. As you
point out, the total draw on the trunk line would be greater than the
5 amps the terminal wires.
So, since you suggest 10,15 and 20 amp fuses, maybe these should
be slow-blow types? Or maybe under rate the fuses some and then
use slow-blows. I am concerned that even with the down-rated fuses
that you recommend, it might still allow the smallest wires to get smoked.
I guess I will try to run short lengths of wires at high amperages to see
whether the wire smokes or the fuse blows. I bet that the smoke limit
for wiring is well known. I.E. 5 amp wire carrys 5 amps with no
warming; when run at 10 amps continuous = hot but no melt;
15 amps = insulation melt under worst case scenarios.
Maybe the designers were using a different load limit when picking
the fuses. Maybe they decided to let the smallest wires get close
to melting before the fuse blows....
-Tony
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