Problem fusing my grounds

[NutHugger 10+ year member]

you fuse the (+) side bc if a live wire loosens and grounds out the fuse pops and a fire isn't started. You must fuse the (+) side for this to work... you may fuse the (-) side as well, but you need the fuse on the (+) side 1st and foremost.

We've went over this. You're wrong. GTFO

 

[BlactimusCrime 10+ year member]

We've went over this. You're wrong. GTFO

If so.. explain how.

 

[truckramrod 10+ year member]

n2caraudio.com

You only need one fuse per power loop. And since the positive side is isolated from the chassis of the car, you use the positive side. If the ground side shorts to the body before the fuse then the fuse is useless.

Nuthugger:

If the ground shorts to the body, since the body is grounded there is 0 difference in potential thus no current flow and no need for a fuse. Nice try though.

RTARD, you just repeated what he said and then said he was wrong, if so then you would be wrong.

 

[BlactimusCrime 10+ year member]

In addition, the fuse goes on the (+) side on individual items so if a fuse blows it doesnt royally F*CK you while you're driving down the road.... its kinda hard on your alt to run your car by its self, which is what a blown ground fuse would do, and it would force you to replace that fuse immediately for your car to function again, what if you dont have a fuse? youre F*CKED... Thats what...

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

ok. since no one yet seems to understand why we only fuse power wires, let me explain.

first, lets all recognize that the convention for DC current is backwards. DC current "flows" from negative to positive. ok, let's move on.

Regardless of current (charge flow) direction, we still recognize that power wire is fused to provide two things:

1. over current protection

2. short circuit protection

The DC electrical system in a car uses a common ground - i.e. the metal in the car. This provides a convenient ground for all of the various electrical components in the car, saving money and weight.

In order to protect the battery, only one of the wires (power or ground) needs to be fused. We fuse each power wire because those are the wires that are dedicated to each load. If you fuse the battery ground lead at the battery, it would be a ~300A fuse so it could handle the starting current as well as every single piece of electronics in the car. let's think about what that would do - it certainly wouldn't provide over current protection for anything, and various wires in the car would melt before the fuse blew due to a short (assuming that was the only fuse in a circuit). If you fuse your ground in addition to fusing each power wire - the only thing you will accomplish is increased voltage drop. the positive wire fuse will certainly blow first, unless of course that wire is the same ampacity as the ground fuse (i.e. for 1/0 wire or something).

We size the fuse for each power wire based on the wire size, and we size the wire based on the ampacity (load) of each device that wire serves. positive wire fuses can be selectively sized for each wire in common locations (battery, fuse box). if you were to fuse each ground wire - it would be between the electrical device and the metal on the car and located all over the place. that would be effective but annoying.

you want wires fused as close to the source as possible - in this case the battery positive terminal or fuse box. by fusing the power wire you are protected from any short circuit that happens on the load side of the fuse. if power wire comes in contact with the car metal, the circuit is completed, current leaves the negative terminal - flows through the ground wire to the chassis - contacts the short location and travels down the power wire trying to return to the battery - but it first passes through the fuse which opens the circuit - and the battery is protected. you may try to argue that fusing the ground allows the fault to clear faster - but that depends on the size of the fuse. the difference in time would be so short, there really is no benefit.

fusing the ground is pointless due to the size of fuse required... and it's redundant since the power wire fuse already protects the battery. you only need one fuse in the DC circuit.

lastly, the only fuses that are directly connected to a battery terminal are inherent to the battery terminal. Streetwires has some that use AFS fuses. otherwise, you still need a protective fuse holder and a short lead of wire to the battery terminal.

cliffs:

you only need one fuse in the circuit

fusing the positive wire is sufficient and effective

fusing a ground wire won't hurt anything unless it blows while starting the car and you're left stranded

 

[BlactimusCrime 10+ year member]

ok. since no one yet seems to understand why we only fuse power wires, let me explain.
first, lets all recognize that the convention for DC current flow is backwards. DC current "flows" from negative to positive. ok, let's move on.

Regardless of current (charge flow) direction, we still recognize that power wire is fused to provide two things:

1. over current protection

2. short circuit protection

The DC electrical system in a car uses a common ground - i.e. the metal in the car. This provides a convenient ground for all of the various electrical components in the car, saving money and weight.

In order to protect the battery, only one of the wires needs to be grounded. We fuse each power wire because those are the wires that are dedicated to each load. If you fuse the battery ground lead, it would be a ~300A fuse so it could handle the starting current as well as every single piece of electronics in the car. let's think about what that would do - it certainly wouldn't provide over current protection for anything, and various wires in the car would melt before the fuse blew due to a short (assuming that was the only fuse in a circuit). If you fuse your ground in addition to fusing each power wire - the only thing you will accomplish is increased voltage drop. the positive wire fuse will certainly blow first, unless of course that wire is the same ampacity as the ground fuse (i.e. for 1/0 wire or something).

We size the fuse for each power wire based on the wire size, and we size the wire based on the ampacity (load) of each device that wire serves. positive wire fuses can be selectively sized. if you were to fuse each ground wire - it would be between the electrical device and the metal on the car. that would be effective but annoying.

you want wires fused as close to the source as possible - in this case the battery positive terminal or fuse box. by fusing the power wire you are protected from any short circuit that happens on the load side of the fuse. if power wire comes in contact with the car metal, the circuit is completed, current leaves the negative terminal - flows through the ground wire to the chassis - contacts the short location and travels down the power wire trying to return to the battery - but it first passes through the fuse which opens the circuit - and the battery is protected.

fusing the ground is pointless due to the size of fuse required... and it's redundant since the power wire fuse already protects the battery. you only need one fuse in the DC circuit.

lastly, the only fuses that are directly connected to a battery terminal are inherent to the battery terminal. Streetwires has some that use AFS fuses. otherwise, you still need a protective fuse holder and a short lead of wire to the battery terminal.

you only need one fuse in the circuit and fusing the positive wire is sufficient. fusing a ground wire won't hurt anything unless it blows while starting the car and you're left stranded.

Thank you for the very complete answer than i was too lazy to put together lol

maybe you can shut this a*shole up.. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[NutHugger 10+ year member]

ok. since no one yet seems to understand why we only fuse power wires, let me explain.
first, lets all recognize that the convention for DC current flow is backwards. DC current "flows" from negative to positive. ok, let's move on.

Regardless of current (charge flow) direction, we still recognize that power wire is fused to provide two things:

1. over current protection

2. short circuit protection

The DC electrical system in a car uses a common ground - i.e. the metal in the car. This provides a convenient ground for all of the various electrical components in the car, saving money and weight.

In order to protect the battery, only one of the wires needs to be grounded. We fuse each power wire because those are the wires that are dedicated to each load. If you fuse the battery ground lead, it would be a ~300A fuse so it could handle the starting current as well as every single piece of electronics in the car. let's think about what that would do - it certainly wouldn't provide over current protection for anything, and various wires in the car would melt before the fuse blew due to a short (assuming that was the only fuse in a circuit). If you fuse your ground in addition to fusing each power wire - the only thing you will accomplish is increased voltage drop. the positive wire fuse will certainly blow first, unless of course that wire is the same ampacity as the ground fuse (i.e. for 1/0 wire or something).

We size the fuse for each power wire based on the wire size, and we size the wire based on the ampacity (load) of each device that wire serves. positive wire fuses can be selectively sized. if you were to fuse each ground wire - it would be between the electrical device and the metal on the car. that would be effective but annoying.

you want wires fused as close to the source as possible - in this case the battery positive terminal or fuse box. by fusing the power wire you are protected from any short circuit that happens on the load side of the fuse. if power wire comes in contact with the car metal, the circuit is completed, current leaves the negative terminal - flows through the ground wire to the chassis - contacts the short location and travels down the power wire trying to return to the battery - but it first passes through the fuse which opens the circuit - and the battery is protected.

fusing the ground is pointless due to the size of fuse required... and it's redundant since the power wire fuse already protects the battery. you only need one fuse in the DC circuit.

lastly, the only fuses that are directly connected to a battery terminal are inherent to the battery terminal. Streetwires has some that use AFS fuses. otherwise, you still need a protective fuse holder and a short lead of wire to the battery terminal.

you only need one fuse in the circuit and fusing the positive wire is sufficient. fusing a ground wire won't hurt anything unless it blows while starting the car and you're left stranded.

DING DING DING!!!

Lol I just love proving that 1 out of 20 members on this board know what they are talking about. The rest just THINK they do.

 

[truckramrod 10+ year member]

We've went over this. You're wrong. GTFO

Fusing the ground side of the circuit will limit the amperage draw of the circuit to the fuses rating but it wont keep the battery from blowing up and positive wire from melting.

You can't dispute that.

 

[n2caraudio 10+ year member]

Thats what I said, only the very short version. LOL

 

[n2caraudio 10+ year member]

DING DING DING!!!Lol I just love proving that 1 out of 20 members on this board know what they are talking about. The rest just THINK they do.

Yes, you are one of the 20.

 

[NutHugger 10+ year member]

Fusing the ground side of the circuit will limit the amperage draw of the circuit to the fuses rating but it wont keep the battery from blowing up and positive wire from melting.
You can't dispute that.

I CAN dispute that because you're wrong on all counts idiot.

 

[NutHugger 10+ year member]

Yes, you are one of the 20.

Clearly I am. I proved you idiots wrong on everything you said.. because you have no clue what you're talking about.

 

[BlactimusCrime 10+ year member]

DING DING DING!!!Lol I just love proving that 1 out of 20 members on this board know what they are talking about. The rest just THINK they do.

Im pretty sure if you combine my 2 informative posts, the information isn't much short of Keep_hope_alive... I know what I'm talking about.

 

[n2caraudio 10+ year member]

Clearly I am. I proved you idiots wrong on everything you said.. because you have no clue what you're talking about.

Is there lollypops and gumdrops also, where you are from.

 

[NutHugger 10+ year member]

Im pretty sure if you combine my 2 informative posts, the information isn't much short of Keep_hope_alive... I know what I'm talking about.

Sure ya do pal.