Re: Fusible link volt/amp specification limits?
[Re: peelerboy]
#1195723
03/12/12 02:33 PM
03/12/12 02:33 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,421 Balt. Md
383man
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Posts: 27,421
Balt. Md
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Dale where the heck have you been ? There is different sizes that the factory uses. Basically the fuse link is a smaller piece of wire then the circuit is so it will burn out first in case of a short before the larger wire in the rest of the circuit. I have never seen exact #'s on the amout of amps it takes to burn them out. But I would guess that a 20 gauge fuse link will only take about 30 amps. The heater circuit uses a larger one like 16 or 14 gauge as they can draw 25 amps on high speed so I would think about 40 or a tad more amps would burn it out. Course when you get a dead short it will pump alot of amps thru it and burn out real fast. Ron
Last edited by 383man; 03/12/12 02:34 PM.
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Re: Fusible link volt/amp specification limits?
[Re: 383man]
#1195724
03/12/12 02:49 PM
03/12/12 02:49 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,838 Detroit, Michigan, USA!
peelerboy
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OP
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,838
Detroit, Michigan, USA!
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Quote:
Dale where the heck have you been ? There is different sizes that the factory uses. Basically the fuse link is a smaller piece of wire then the circuit is so it will burn out first in case of a short before the larger wire in the rest of the circuit. I have never seen exact #'s on the amout of amps it takes to burn them out. But I would guess that a 20 gauge fuse link will only take about 30 amps. The heater circuit uses a larger one like 16 or 14 gauge as they can draw 25 amps on high speed so I would think about 40 or a tad more amps would burn it out. Course when you get a dead short it will pump alot of amps thru it and burn out real fast. Ron
Howdy, Ron!
I've just been busy working like crazy and raising a family. Haven't had the time to mess around with the cars too much, but things are finally letting up a little and I'm back in the garage. I actually took the Challenger out yesterday and made a couple beat passes. That was nice.
Thanks for the great response. The fusible link that should be in the harness connected to my starter relay... isn't! I know I can just go buy a little blue wire from Year One for $20, but I was contemplating putting in a durable fuse holder instead. Then I realized that I had no idea how much current it took to burn that wire out. I had one go on my `68 Road Runner a few decades back and had a tough time rigging something so I could get home again. Just thought I might modernize that one safety feature of my harness for easier serviceability.
Dale
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Re: Fusible link volt/amp specification limits?
[Re: a12rag]
#1195727
03/12/12 04:40 PM
03/12/12 04:40 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
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Unless you do some research & get the correct fuse (slow blow)I'm assuming or circuit breaker I'd keep it simple & replace your missing one w one from NAPA or the "help" rack at your parts house
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: Fusible link volt/amp specification limits?
[Re: RapidRobert]
#1195728
03/12/12 05:01 PM
03/12/12 05:01 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,270 Missouri
MY340
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Missouri
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I'm using a 25A fuse & holder in my Duster which works fine.
1970 FE5 Duster 360/904/3.91's SOLD
1973 TB3 SpaceDuster 340/4spd/4.10's SOLD
Moparless for now but when the opportunity is right I'll have another one.
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Re: Fusible link volt/amp specification limits?
[Re: stumpy]
#1195732
03/12/12 11:29 PM
03/12/12 11:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,421 Balt. Md
383man
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
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Posts: 27,421
Balt. Md
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Quote:
The new cars aren't turning over high compression v8s and running high draw heater motors etc.
They are running heater motors that draw 25 amps and the electric fan draws a good bit on high. Its just that they do it that way now so its easy to replace them. And the starter draw has nothing to do with the fuseable link. Ron
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Re: Fusible link volt/amp specification limits?
[Re: ahy]
#1195734
03/13/12 01:00 PM
03/13/12 01:00 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,838 Detroit, Michigan, USA!
peelerboy
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Posts: 9,838
Detroit, Michigan, USA!
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Quote:
The general guideline is to size the fusible link 2 wire sizes less than the main wire... 12 guage wire would use a 16 guage fusible link for example.
One sizing consideration is alternator output... a '71 would likley have had a 50 or max 60 amp alternator and a 12 guage charge wire. The 12 guage wire + 16 guage fusible link could be considered OK for intermittant current up to 50 or 60 amps so that would be the fuse size. Call it 60 amps. Continuous capability is more like 30 amps which is why muscle MOPAR's charge circuit wiring is weak.
All that said, with a stock system, you could spend $5 at Autozone for a length of 16 (or 14) guage fusible link and fit it in. Unless you are going to bypass the kinda weak stock system, that's that I'd do.
Great stuff! Thanks for all these very informative replies, guys!
Dale
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