Fuse Help

[BigOne 10+ year member]

im buying a amp wire kit and it comes with a 300 amp fuse + fuse holder and im wondering if its bad to have a higher rated amp fuse than your alternator? Im getting a new alternator which is going to be rated around 160 amps, so will a higher amp fuse break anything or make anything go wrong?

alot of people say its based on what type of wire you are using, well im going to be using a 1/0 gauge wire "big 3 upgrade" so im wondering if it will be fine without any problems.

Also:

do i need to replace my original battery fuse once i get a loud sound system? im going to be getting a 1500 rms system and the main amp power cord will be connected to a fuse holder + fuse, so will i also need to upgrade the battery fuse even though i have one on the wire?

sorry i know nothing on fuses

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[GreenBook 10+ year member]

The fuse you use in the power wire depends upon the amp or amps you are going to be running. Using a fuse that is rated larger then the maximum output allows the amplifier to drain energy from the battery above and beyond what the alternator can produce.

In your case though, a 300 amp fuse is way larger then what you should be using for a 1500w rms amp. You'd have to tell us what specific amp you are going to use, but a 'true' 1500W rms shouldn't need fuses bigger then roughly 110-120 amps. 1500(W)/14(V)= 107(A).

If you plan on running a second amp, say for your high notes, the fuse closest to the battery needs to be cumulatively larger the the amps' your running demands. Where you split the wires to their individual amp needs to be rated for its respective amp.

 

[GreenBook 10+ year member]

I don't understand exactly what you mean by battery fuse, you need to be more specific. Do you mean the fuse on your amps power wire by the battery; or the fuse between your alternator & the battery?

Most people when they do they're big 3 upgrade don't even install a new fuse between the alt/batt. You can if you want though, just extra protection.

 

[BigOne 10+ year member]

the fuse in the fuse box "battery fuse"

im going to be using 2 amps

Kicker 08ZX1500.1

&

Alpine MRP-F600

will i need a fused distribution block and have 2 different rated amp fuses.. higher for the bigger amp and lower for the smaller amp or would a non-fused distribution block be fine? i couldnt find any that has 1) 1/0 input and 2) outputs "(1) 1/0 gauge output & (1) 4 gauge output" if you know any post em //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[GreenBook 10+ year member]

You don't plan on attaching your power wire to your fuse box do you? That's not a very good idea. It makes it too easy to have something bad happen, and potentially fry your whole fusebox or start a fire. Hook the amp pwr wire directly to the positive battery terminal. If you can't get the wire on there because it has funky terminals, they sell adapters to make it work.

The fuse in your fusebox is fine as is, because that fuse is there in case of a spike in amperage going into your fusebox, preventing the rest of the fusebox from overloading.

You don't neccesarily need a fused distribution block, you can use multiple in-line fuses. A fused block is just more conveinient and makes it so there isn't so much clutter on the wiring. Any halfway decent 1/0 distribution block will include adapters or setscrews that allow you to fit a 4g wire into it.

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_11177_Phoenix+Gold+TXBBKF2.html#

If you look at the closeup pic of that cheap one it has setscrews built into it. You should be able to get away with just tighening down the setscrews more to hold the 4g. If not they do sell wire guage adapters to convert your 1/0 output to 4g and you can use a smaller block.

http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_id=6337

 

[SPL Blazer 10+ year member]

im buying a amp wire kit and it comes with a 300 amp fuse + fuse holder and im wondering if its bad to have a higher rated amp fuse than your alternator? Im getting a new alternator which is going to be rated around 160 amps, so will a higher amp fuse break anything or make anything go wrong?
alot of people say its based on what type of wire you are using, well im going to be using a 1/0 gauge wire "big 3 upgrade" so im wondering if it will be fine without any problems.

You'll be fine with a 300 amp fuse. Your fusing the wire, not the amps. Your amps should have their own fuses within 18" of the amps. When choosing a fuse you want to use one thats rated for the wire your using it on. 0/1 ga wire will handle over 300 amps so your 300 amp fuse will be just fine. Having a fuse on your power wire is only to protect your vehicle in case you get a short between the battery and amps fuses.

 

[BigOne 10+ year member]

i was asking if i needed to change the fuse in the fuse box but i guess you dont //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

thanks alot for the help //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[BigOne 10+ year member]

so i need a fuse by the battery and 2 fuses by the amps.. i should use a fused distribution block.

By Battery: replace the 300 amp fuse with a 200 amp fuse.

By Amps: use 1 200 amp fuse for my ZX1500.1 "1/0 gauge wire" & use a 100 amp fuse for my MRP-F600 "4 gauge wire"

can i use a non-fused distribution block then use in-line fuses for both wires??

 

[SPL Blazer 10+ year member]

You want to fuse each wire for your amps. A fused distro block would work fine, but you don't have to use one, it's just easier. if your using a 200 amp fuse for one amp and a 100 amp fuse for the other than you should be using a 300 amp fuse in front. Most 1500 watt amps require a 150 amp fuse, are you sure it's asking for a 200 amp fuse?

 

[BigOne 10+ year member]

yeah ill probably just get a fused distribution block but i cant find any good ones so i have to look around more.

are you sure it's asking for a 200 amp fuse?

no im not sure but i thought it would be ok to use a 200.. so i should just go with a 150?

alright so the one by the battery should be a 300 and the distribution block or in-line's should have (1) 150 - big amp & (1) 100 - small amp

 

[SPL Blazer 10+ year member]

correct.

Check out this place for some dist blocks.....HiFi Sound Connection

 

[BigOne 10+ year member]

alright thanks..

oh & those blocks **** & that site doesnt even give you a good description on the items //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

 

[SPL Blazer 10+ year member]

Thats the only place I ever buy stuff like that from, best prices. not a good description? What more do you need, it has the pic and tells you what it does.

If you click on the tab on the side and look at car audio accessories it'll give more choices than just the Stinger ones.

 

[BigOne 10+ year member]

i know.. iv been to that site alot of times before..

alot of the items dont even tell you what type of wire it takes..

 

[BigOne 10+ year member]

i have a question about the distribution block.

if i get this block

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_211FBXS20/StreetWires-FBXS20.html?tp=3001

it has 2 inputs and 2 outputs. will both fuses and wires work just from the 1 input?

pic

you like my drawing? lol