Thread: circuit breaker or Maxi fuse?

I would go the circuit breaker route. If you are stuck camping and two wires accidentally short you will be left without power if you don't have a spare fuse. This way you can fix up the problem and reset it. I use it on my car and don't have a problem.

70A or 100A
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView...Max=&SUBCATID=

I have a tractor with auto-resetting circuit breakers on the lights and they're a pain. Over time they loose their ability to carry their rated current and start tripping. I'd rather fuses so that if there's a real overload the circuit is permanemtly broken until the problem is fixed.

Hi wildDisco, I design and manufacture dual battery gear and have done for many years and there is no better or safer protection than circuit breakers in circuits planned to carry 30 or more amps.

There is lot more to it but I'm not at home right now but if you can wait till i'm back at my computer next week.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by stirlsilver

I would go the circuit breaker route. If you are stuck camping and two wires accidentally short you will be left without power if you don't have a spare fuse.

You obviously didn't go to dodgy brothers electrical repairs. Whats wrong with shorting the fuse box with a piece of wire or a drill bit?

I used to use fuses on everything but have been using auto reset breakers recently. Just a personal thing. Trying something new and all that.

G'day drivesafe

I'd like to here the full story to make a informed choice.

A circuit breaker is an un-ending form of circuit protection. Whether you go the resettable or auto-reset option is up to you. I dont believe there is anything more irritating than having to fish around for the correct size of fuse. The debate over which blows first, a fuse or a circuit breaker is long and arduous. But when push comes to shove, if the short's that nasty anything will blow. And so long as you follow the smaller rating than your cable can handle, then fire risk is very minimal.

The pluses of fuses, they're cheap initially. The biggest negitive, you cant find/but really decent fittings for the larger fuse-links (which is acutally what those mammoth fuses are). Another negative is that you have to carry a spare or two. And another, is that often with fuses(-links) the cable size for the terminals they take can be limited. A little like using a mini-blade fuse to carry >30A. You just cant get mini terminals for the blade to carry cable that large.

Hence we arrive at circuit breakers. There's all kinds, from the ones that fit in fuse holders (not reccommended)...to my personal favourite, the screw/bolt down ones with two posts sticking out. Why use these? You can get battery sized lugs to suit larger cable and still have it fit the circuit breaker! The down side is that they are more expensive. And when they do fail they take a lot longer to replace! On top of that, people can get tempted to just short out the terminals across the top (dodgy brother's style). Hence I would say install the nifty little covers you can get.

I'm sure there's a more scientifically correct reason though.

don't muck around , get circuit breakers.
and do not buy the cheap ones.
my trade is in aircraft, we do not use fuses anymore, since about 30 years ago or more, [gosh am i that old?].
if you want to protect high current circuits, then 'breakers are the only way to go.'
did i mention don't buy cheap?
oh, don't buy cheap ones.
how much is your car worth?
a fused wire could burn it.
do not buy cheap.

Those two ways are the most common ways to do it ! In fitment of all our battery systems inc anderson plug systems we find we get less returns with a H/Duty Maxi Blade fuse holder, The problems with a lot of fuse holders is they can carry the current but not the heat that is caused by the current running through them ! Hence why you see Crispy melted style fuse holder which then turns into bad conections ! The Maxi Blade fuse holders we use have about 8mm cable with a water proof cover, The bigger fuse dispurses the heat better and failure is less likely ! carry 4 or 5 spares.
P.M me if you would lke me to show you one !

Cheers