General rules on fusing/ bus bars

[Mark-E-Mark]

Quick question regarding fusing without getting into detail about my system. I have 3 amps that will be running from a battery in the trunk. I have a cool design I want to try with 3 ANL fuses. I also like the bus bar design or custom made distribution blocks. My amps do have fuses on them. The question is; 1. Do I have to fuse all 3 power wires? 2. If I do have to fuse them, do the fuses need to be at a certain length from batt or amp? My battery will be far back in the trunk (chevy cav) and my amps are on the back seat (folds down). Id like the fuses in a pattern near amps. I really want to make a custom dist block for power and ground or a bus bar like deal. That's why im asking about fusing. Any tips? Please don't ask specs for this build. Its just a headache listening to everyone tell you how you should of built it.

Im basically wanting to show off the fusing or bus bars. I know how important fusing is, how would I do this with a bus bar design. I know it will be a small one. I just am big fan of them. Thanks

Amp 1; 2-40amp fuses

Amp 2; 2-40amp fuses

Amp 3; (mids and highs) 1-40amp fuse

[gr8handogoatness]

You should always fuse as close as you can to the battery. Any wire that runs through something like through the firewall from the engine compartment to the back should be fused, and in your case, on both ends. Basically in case it grounds out there is something to break the connection so is doesn't burn your car down. If your bus bar and the the amps are all in the trunk close to each other you don't need any in between them I wouldn't think. I guess it wouldn't hurt though considering you said you liked the way it looked. Your amps can only pull 200 amps collectively but considering there will be losses in the wire I would probably run 250Amp fuses from front to back and then if you want some between bus and amp just size them slightly higher than the amp will pull, so maybe like 2 100s and a 50ish.

[Mark-E-Mark]

You should always fuse as close as you can to the battery. Any wire that runs through something like through the firewall from the engine compartment to the back should be fused, and in your case, on both ends. Basically in case it grounds out there is something to break the connection so is doesn't burn your car down. If your bus bar and the the amps are all in the trunk close to each other you don't need any in between them I wouldn't think. I guess it wouldn't hurt though considering you said you liked the way it looked. Your amps can only pull 200 amps collectively but considering there will be losses in the wire I would probably run 250Amp fuses from front to back and then if you want some between bus and amp just size them slightly higher than the amp will pull, so maybe like 2 100s and a 50ish.

Man you nailed it! You also answered couple other questions I needed as well. I can appreciate some good clean advise! The battery will be far in the back of the trunk while my amps will be on the seat backing. Ive done research in the mean time since this post and with your advice I think I got it figured out on how I will do it. I also might wait for my new wiring and by the time I get to do all this ill be ready for the new design build I been working on. I will definitely note this, thanks man!

[gr8handogoatness]

Sounds good man, glad I could help. When you get this build going put it up on here so we can see it. Sounds like its gonna look pretty good. Good luck man.