What AMP fuse to use?

**DallasCamaro** · 01-16-2005, 01:33 PM

Thanks fantomas. U laid out what I was trying to say. Big enough to handle the load, but small enough to protect the wiring. By the way....ALL wires attached to that circuit should technically be sized to handle the fuse. Thus, don't tap in a 20 gauge wire just to run to one little light bulb somewhere. If that lil wire shorts out, it could catch fire before the fuse blows. So, as Fantomas said, the fuse should be large enough to handle your loads, but small enough to protect every wire in the circuit. And, of course, as close to the battery terminal as possible.

**n8scstm** · 01-17-2005, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by DallasCamaro

Thanks fantomas. U laid out what I was trying to say. Big enough to handle the load, but small enough to protect the wiring. By the way....ALL wires attached to that circuit should technically be sized to handle the fuse. Thus, don't tap in a 20 gauge wire just to run to one little light bulb somewhere. If that lil wire shorts out, it could catch fire before the fuse blows. So, as Fantomas said, the fuse should be large enough to handle your loads, but small enough to protect every wire in the circuit. And, of course, as close to the battery terminal as possible.

You would have to put an additioal in-line fuse on the small bulb wire to protect it. I have a main fuse at the battery. That 1/0 wire goes to a fused distribution block with smaller fuses.

**n8scstm** · 01-17-2005, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by nsmoller

by this, if i get a 400w inverter my fuse should be 40amps or less?

i'm running wire in a 4runner (SUV) to front seat area, approx 6' would do...

i could use 10g, but if i use 8 or less, is there a problem then?

i figure just incase i get a 750w inverter in the future

A 40 amp fuse would work fine. If you plan on using a 750 watt inverter in the future, I would use 6 gauge wire. There will be no problem in using a larger wire. It's just more $$$.

**n8scstm** · 01-17-2005, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by fantomas

3000 watts, max, right? you realise the usual house circuit is only 15-20 amps....which is at most 2000 watts. this is why space heaters only go up to 1500 watts....

Yes that is 3000 surge, but for sizing wire and fuses you need to make sure you can accomidate that. Its 1500 watts normal. 20 amps * 120 volts is 2400 watts. But besides that, my inverter has 2 outlets.

**n8scstm** · 01-17-2005, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by DRWeside

How many alternators do you have in your truck? That inverter will suck up to 250 amps.

I have one 130 amp alternator. I dont plan on using that many watts though. I'm only running the computer, stereo and some screens. But I got a good deal on the inverter and it's nice to know that if you ever need it, its there, at least until you kill your battery which would be pretty quick at 275 amps.

**n8scstm** · 01-17-2005, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by phatchink

I'm in the final stages of buildign the carputer, I have one question.

So i'm connect the battery directly to the inverter then to the ocmputer, inorder to protect my circuit i'll have to put a fuse in between the inverter and battery???
if the above is true, then how do i know what amperage to use? Someone provide me with a formula?

And back to the original question, here is the circuit breaker that I'm using. Its pretty cool because its waterproof.

Here is where I bought it