Relays instead of fuses? Who has done this??

[traxtar944 10+ year member]

So I was talking on the phone to a local shop, asking if they could bench test my amp to get the efficiency rating of it. We got on the topic of fuses, and he reccomended I skip the fuses and just put a 100Amp relay in its place. Has anyone done this? How would you wire it? Where to get the relays? Would you just use the same rated relay as you are fuses (50A fuse = 50A relay)??

I thought this was a great idea because you'd never have to deal with blown fuses again. The current overload would just trip the relay, you can pop the hood, reset it, and bam you're ready to go!

Thanks for the help and info!

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[duece212 5,000+ posts]

You thinkin breaker? I thought relays just relayed power on a trigger.

 

[bumpin buick 5,000+ posts]

i used them and have a few still

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

Yeah, i think he meant circuit breaker...

 

[bumpin buick 5,000+ posts]

they work great and I have them between a few batts too so I can turn some off if i dont want them all in use

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

they can trip anytime or not trip at all.

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

if this were the way to go, everyone would be doing this. ANL fuses are still the way of CA

 

[bumpin buick 5,000+ posts]

I still have my amp externally fused and same by my front batt, I used mine more than anything as a switch.

 

[traxtar944 10+ year member]

yeah that all makes sense. I don't know if they weaken over time, though. That would be something worth looking into I suppose.

The guy I spoke to kept saying "relay", but it does sound more like a circuit breaker, IMO. I always thought relays were for voltage....

It would be cool if there was something you could wire in-line with your main power wire, that looked almost like those cylindrical fuse boxes, that just switched off when the current exceeded its rating, then you just hit a switch and it resets itself... No more wiring required than a normal in line fuse terminal.