The secret with fuses

[prochobo 10+ year member]

I've recently started competing in MECA (only organization close to me) and I'm doing pretty good in my area. I'm doing DB1 and I have a hard time not blowing my 50A fuse. I just wanted to know if there were any secrets in getting the most out of a fuse.

Is it just luck of the draw to pick the right fuse? Also, I've heard using 2 fuses instead of 1 works pretty well, like 2 25A instead of 1 50A, that true? If so, anyone know where I can find 25A MAXI fuses? Or will I have to go with blade style fuses?

My volume is maxed at 30/35. I'm wondering would it be more beneficial to either:

A. Turn up the gains on amp

B. Turn up the subwoofer level on HU

C. Turn up the bass level on HU

I've got a run of 4 gauge, would doing a run of 1/0 help make my fuse last longer?

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[azbass 5,000+ posts]

get better amps

 

[req 5,000+ posts]

the thing about fuses, is they can take twice their rated current before blowing, but they heat up to the point to where they will melt.

so logically using two 25a fuses will increase the surface area of the metal and allow cooler operation.

http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/item/FSA-25/245500/25_AMP_BLADE_FUSE_.html

theres some 25 amp fuses for pretty cheap. i buy from there often so dont worry about them scamming you or anything. you get a cool catalogue when you order too //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

i would do the 0 guage wire thing, if you could make a custom fuse block for yourself with a 0 guage input, a split with 2x 25A fuses, and then a 0awg output. hell, maybe 5 5A fuses would work better i dunno.

try it out see what works the best.

 

[lilmaniac2 5,000+ posts]

alot of small fuses... get the audiobahn in the flame pack or the old audiopipe ones

 

[Eldorado 5,000+ posts]

Turn the volume down //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[knukonceptz 10+ year member]

Two 25A fuses have less resistance then one 50A fuse, so I would guess 5 10A fuses would in theory work out pretty well.Check out the Ixos block that uses the Mini-ATC fuses, its like $200 (not sure what they were thinking there) but would work for your application

 

[djmadfx 10+ year member]

I've got a run of 4 gauge, would doing a run of 1/0 help make my fuse last longer?

Fuses protect wire. Wire doesn't protect fuses. lol

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Why are you only using a 50A fuse? The wire can handle more current and the amp obviously draws more, why not just use a bigger fuse?

 

[knukonceptz 10+ year member]

MECA uses fuses to classify you. If you can get get a good burp out of a say 50A fuse before it blows, then you have a good chance of winning.

 

[MrSector9 10+ year member]

if surface area matters then 50 1 amp fuses ? expensive kinda though.

 

[BlownEARdRUMS 10+ year member]

MECA uses fuses to classify you. If you can get get a good burp out of a say 50A fuse before it blows, then you have a good chance of winning.

In that case:

What you do is, switch to blade type fuses, get a 50A and a 100A, carefully pull them apart, put the actual 100A fuse part into the 50A casing. They’d never know the difference. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif It’s not like the pull the fuse out of the block and inspect it right? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eyebrow.gif.fe2c18d8720fe8c7eaed347b21ea05a5.gif

 

[MrSector9 10+ year member]

that woudl be cheating........

Even inspecting it, they woudl have to run the current throguh to get it to blow... unless the resistance will also give it away. not sure never checked the difference between fuses.

IF that is the case though, build up a blade fuse block, say 5 10 amp fuses, replace the guts with 40 amp ones so be 200 amps.

 

[BlownEARdRUMS 10+ year member]

that woudl be cheating........

True... But it would work...//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/naughty.gif.94359f346c0f1259df8038d60b41863e.gif

The best logical way that I can think of is what everybody else has been saying, more fuses with lower amp ratings that add up to what you want. 5x10A fuses should give you 50 amps, and lower heat allowing them to maybe last longer under overload. Isn’t heat what causes the fuse's to blow?

 

[MrSector9 10+ year member]

yes heat is the factor.

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

MECA uses fuses to classify you. If you can get get a good burp out of a say 50A fuse before it blows, then you have a good chance of winning.

Learn something new every day. I guess that kinda levels the playing field, but at the same time is kinda ghey. Let me guess, they are supported by the companies selling fuses? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif