Thread: Should distribution block fuses be used?!?

Originally Posted by Caelric

Well, you could always just use a chain of fuses rather than wire; that would account for every possible fault. Obviously, though, thats very unrealistic.

However, I think having a fused distro block is a small price to pay for the added protection, especially given your scenario of:



The fused distro block will probably protect against this, if the short is one of the wires from the distro block to the amp(s), assuming the fuses at the block are smaller than the main battery fuse (as they should be!)

Again, it's all a matter of price versus return on investment, and to me, it's a small price to pay.

Dave

I agree with the above for the most part, and have acted accordingly prior to these posts, but even the "chain of fuses" and the fuses at the block, although they afford some level of additional protection, cannot account for all eventualities...in the knife-edge scenario, for example, you may have bare metal contact presenting a small resistance such that 10-30 amps flows...not enough to part the fuse, but certainly enough, if localized over a small enough area along the edge, to create a serious combustion hazard for materials surrounding it.

I'd recommend the fusing at wire size changes, but also the attention to detail necessary to maximize protection of the wire as it travels through grommets, along edges, under floor panels and carpet, and among mechanical parts like trunk lids and trick servos, etc. Nothing that prudent people don't do in the first place, but reminders never hurt.

Originally Posted by lexdiamond20

and yes it was the same quality as the more expensive ones.

While it's always a better idea to have the fuses than to not, the more expensive fuse blocks are generally more weather resistant and won't show their age as quickly as the cheaper fuse block. There's also different material used between them, what they are plated with, etc that causes a direct corelation to the price (retail that is).

So to say it's the same quality is a bit of a misnomer...

Crutchfield is correct.

You have a fuse at the battery to protect the wiring from a short.

You have a fuse on your equipment to protect the car wiring from a short or problem in the circuit...or an inadvertant overload.

You don't need an additional set of fuses in between.

You CAN add all the fuses you want...but you don't NEED them.

If you do think you need them...then you had better get to work putting fuses all throughout your car, because they are only protected at the fuse box...not at the item itself...also put an extra set of fuses in your house...the one at the CB panel...the one in your electronics...and somehow stick another one in the plug.

Fuses are NOT surge protectors...they are overload protectors...you can have a surge that will wipe out your electronics but never blow a fuse.


Now a reason I would add an additional fuse block is to be able to disable power to the equipment inside the car, without having to open the hood...for example to park the car for a couple of weeks and not want the battery to go dead under the small trickle power usages.

Originally Posted by DodgeCummins

You CAN add all the fuses you want...but you don't NEED them.

I'll add to that that the majority RECOMMEND them for safety reasons.

I have a 200 amp fuse at battery on power wire going to 60 amp fused distribution block going to 1200 watt internally fused amp and 320 external fused amp and a none fused distribution block splitting the ground. Is this all okay or do i need to change something?