Is it possible to over fuse?

[Pilgrims 10+ year member]

Well is it? I'm going to be running an Orion 2500d and I have a 300 amp anl fuse near the battery and then i have a fused distribution block with 2 300 amp anl fuses( the 2500d isnt internally fused). is this over fusing, and will it be harmful?

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[Nikuk 5,000+ posts]

what size wires? thats the only thing that matters.

 

[boister77 10+ year member]

the setup you have is fine. just make sure your using the appropiate fuse rating based on your wire.

 

[Pilgrims 10+ year member]

what size wires? thats the only thing that matters.

the power wire is 1/0 gauge and then from the fused ditr. block it runs to two 4 gauge. so are all these 300 amp anl fuses ok?

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

You don't want to fuse the 4ga as high as 300A. Highest I would go there would be ~150A.

 

[Nikuk 5,000+ posts]

the power wire is 1/0 gauge and then from the fused ditr. block it runs to two 4 gauge. so are all these 300 amp anl fuses ok?

You NEED to step down on the 4ga fuses. 150 should be good depending on length.

 

[Pilgrims 10+ year member]

You NEED to step down on the 4ga fuses. 150 should be good depending on length.

the 4ga from the distribution block is for the two power inputs on the 2500d. i figured going big fuses on this would be better than smaller. as for length of the 4 ga. wire, itll be about 4 ft tops, so this would still be bad? and can someone explain to me why "over fusing" is not good? im confused //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

 

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

the 4ga from the distribution block is for the two power inputs on the 2500d. i figured going big fuses on this would be better than smaller. as for length of the 4 ga. wire, itll be about 4 ft tops, so this would still be bad? and can someone explain to me why "over fusing" is not good? im confused //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

If your run from the dist block to the amp is only 4 ft or less you can get by with a smaller fuse.

If you had a problem like a short and your fuses were rated really high like your 300 amp fuses are. By the time your fuses blew your amps would already be fried and possibly burn up with anything else that is near by.

I have a 200amp ANL under my hood on 1/0 gauge to dist block with 4 gauge coming out and only use 80 amp AGU fuses in the block.

 

[Nikuk 5,000+ posts]

the 4ga from the distribution block is for the two power inputs on the 2500d. i figured going big fuses on this would be better than smaller. as for length of the 4 ga. wire, itll be about 4 ft tops, so this would still be bad? and can someone explain to me why "over fusing" is not good? im confused //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

simple, if the 4 gauge wire comes to a dead short, lets say about 260amps of 14v current starts passing through it. That much current WILL melt the insulation, fuse / melt the wire, start your vehicle on fire.

DO NOT EXCEED THE REASONABLE CURRENT RATING OF YOUR WIRE.

I know it has two power & ground connections, also that it has no internal fusing... I have a few of them.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

and can someone explain to me why "over fusing" is not good? im confused //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

Nick hit the nail on the head. Fuses are there to protect the wire (and in your case the amps aswell). If you use too high of a fuse rating, it won't protect the wire/amp like it should and allow them to carry/accept more amps than they can handle, which leads to very bad things (blown equipment, fires, etc etc). Pretty much the same reason your house has a circut breaker box. How safe would you feel living in a house without a breaker box?

 

[Nikuk 5,000+ posts]

Nick hit the nail on the head. Fuses are there to protect the wire (and in your case the amps aswell). If you use too high of a fuse rating, it won't protect the wire/amp like it should and allow them to carry/accept more amps than they can handle, which leads to very bad things (blown equipment, fires, etc etc). Pretty much the same reason your house has a circut breaker box. How safe would you feel living in a house without a breaker box?

Good morning.

 

[Pilgrims 10+ year member]

simple, if the 4 gauge wire comes to a dead short, lets say about 260amps of 14v current starts passing through it. That much current WILL melt the insulation, fuse / melt the wire, start your vehicle on fire.
DO NOT EXCEED THE REASONABLE CURRENT RATING OF YOUR WIRE.

I know it has two power & ground connections, also that it has no internal fusing... I have a few of them.

im starting to understand this.

So would you reccomend 2 150 amp anl fuses in my fused distr. block? I also have a 300 amp anl fuse fused right near the battery, should i lower that fuse too? Basically, what fuses do i have to run to ensure ultimate safety?

 

[Nikuk 5,000+ posts]

run 300 on the main wire & 150 on Each 4 gauge.

 

[Pilgrims 10+ year member]

run 300 on the main wire & 150 on Each 4 gauge.

excellent, i appreciate your help..one more question though. i also have an orion 3002 for my components (will be running at 2 ohms, so 150 x2). i plan on running a 4 gauge power wire to the amp without a distr. block, so the only fuse i have will be at the battery. i have an 80 amp agu fuse, is that ok to use on this wire, or is it too much??

 

[Nikuk 5,000+ posts]

it's fine.