one of meades videos got me thinking

[Broke_Audio_Addict]

I'm not confused at all, you are confusing a fusible link with a fuse.

[Broke_Audio_Addict]

Also you can believe what you want about what fuses are for but they are for more than protecting the wire.

[meade916]

Also you can believe what you want about what fuses are for but they are for more than protecting the wire.

what else are they (the main battery fuse) for protecting? the amplifier? the headlights? the dome lights? windshield wipers?

the main fuse ONLY protects the wire (and obviously the car). Period. If you have an amp, it will usually have it's own fuse. Your headlights have their own fuse. The wipers have their own fuse...all inside of a fuse box that is connected to one larger fuse....the main battery fuse or fusible link. Everything connected to that wire is responsible for it's own fusing and protection but the MAIN fuse on the MAIN positive wire is only for protecting that wire and a wire fire. Same thing for when we hook up our own fancy aftermarket 1/0 wire. That 300a ANL fuse isn't doing shit to protect your favorite amp, sorry to tell you. Nor is it protecting your wipers or the headlights.

It is protecting the car from a fire if you get a catastrophic short though.

[Broke_Audio_Addict]

I'm not just talking about the main fuse and people around here tell others all the time even their amp runs the fuse is just to protect the wire which is false.

I'm well aware that there is multiple fuses in the vehicle I'm not a moron.

If you're throwing a 300 or 350amp fuse on your 1/0 because that's it's current carrying capability and you aren't actually drawing that much current you're right you aren't protecting anything but if you fused appropriately yes you are.

[Bump4life]

You better go look at some factory wires and stare at the fusible link.

You also aren't fusing just to protect the wire I absolutely hate that statement especially when people are suggesting someone should fuse to their wires current carrying capability when their actual current demand is much less.

I think you are confusing fuses

Seriously though, there is no reason to fuse an alternator. Oem manufacturers fuse any

Wire that could short on battery side only. You are probably looking at another fuse.

If they fused the alternator they would have to fuse at or above alternator rating. I've never seen a 150 a fuse in a car fuse box.

Also the rule is to fuse at or below the current capability of wire. Depends on what you need to run through it. It's mainly for he wire because people who put wires in hat will short one day didn't design or plan it out well. A wire should never short. That's just bad install.

So why wouldn't you want to fuse it? if the winding in the alt burnt up and grounded out, wouldn't that connect the alt charge lead going to the front batt to the ground? just a thought

We were talking about batteries in back. If you had battery in front yes you'd want a fuse right at battery from run to alt. But even so if you can't run a wire 4 feet safely across engine bay without having it never short, it's gunna be an install issue.

Pretty much fuse every connection out from a battery that's what fuses are for. Constant power source that could melt your wires and cause a hazard

Edit: I want to clarify most alternators go to starter or fuse box then are fused within fuse box and battery is connected separately to fuse box. And there is a main bus in then fuse box that is fused to protect all from battery. And each individual circuit is also fused obviously

[Jhunt94]

You better go look at some factory wires and stare at the fusible link.

You also aren't fusing just to protect the wire I absolutely hate that statement especially when people are suggesting someone should fuse to their wires current carrying capability when their actual current demand is much less.

I think you are confusing fuses

Seriously though, there is no reason to fuse an alternator. Oem manufacturers fuse any

Wire that could short on battery side only. You are probably looking at another fuse.

If they fused the alternator they would have to fuse at or above alternator rating. I've never seen a 150 a fuse in a car fuse box.

Also the rule is to fuse at or below the current capability of wire. Depends on what you need to run through it. It's mainly for he wire because people who put wires in hat will short one day didn't design or plan it out well. A wire should never short. That's just bad install.

So why wouldn't you want to fuse it? if the winding in the alt burnt up and grounded out, wouldn't that connect the alt charge lead going to the front batt to the ground? just a thought

We were talking about batteries in back. If you had battery in front yes you'd want a fuse right at battery from run to alt. But even so if you can't run a wire 4 feet safely across engine bay without having it never short, it's gunna be an install issue.

Pretty much fuse every connection out from a battery that's what fuses are for. Constant power source that could melt your wires and cause a hazard

ahh I gotcha

[meade916]

I'm not just talking about the main fuse and people around here tell others all the time even their amp runs the fuse is just to protect the wire which is false.

I'm well aware that there is multiple fuses in the vehicle I'm not a moron.

If you're throwing a 300 or 350amp fuse on your 1/0 because that's it's current carrying capability and you aren't actually drawing that much current you're right you aren't protecting anything but if you fused appropriately yes you are.

the amp run's fuse IS to protect the wire though. That is why you put it by the battery and not by the amp.

If you are throwing a 300 amp ANL fuse on a wire but only drawing 50 amps from it with a small system, YES you are STILL PROTECTING THE WIRE, and the car. How many amps do you think a direct short draws?

[Bump4life]

I'm not just talking about the main fuse and people around here tell others all the time even their amp runs the fuse is just to protect the wire which is false.

I'm well aware that there is multiple fuses in the vehicle I'm not a moron.

If you're throwing a 300 or 350amp fuse on your 1/0 because that's it's current carrying capability and you aren't actually drawing that much current you're right you aren't protecting anything but if you fused appropriately yes you are.

the amp run's fuse IS to protect the wire though. That is why you put it by the battery and not by the amp.

If you are throwing a 300 amp ANL fuse on a wire but only drawing 50 amps from it with a small system, YES you are STILL PROTECTING THE WIRE, and the car. How many amps do you think a direct short draws?

More than the fuse Steve

[Broke_Audio_Addict]

So if it's just to protect the wire on the amp run why does the amp manufacturer recommend a fuse size?

Explain why amps for years and some still do had fuses built into them?

You know the right people to ask so have them come explain how a fuse only protects the wire.

[Jhunt94]

I'm not just talking about the main fuse and people around here tell others all the time even their amp runs the fuse is just to protect the wire which is false.

I'm well aware that there is multiple fuses in the vehicle I'm not a moron.

If you're throwing a 300 or 350amp fuse on your 1/0 because that's it's current carrying capability and you aren't actually drawing that much current you're right you aren't protecting anything but if you fused appropriately yes you are.

the amp run's fuse IS to protect the wire though. That is why you put it by the battery and not by the amp.

If you are throwing a 300 amp ANL fuse on a wire but only drawing 50 amps from it with a small system, YES you are STILL PROTECTING THE WIRE, and the car. How many amps do you think a direct short draws?

but wouldn't you also want to fuse to protect the amp? If an amplifier normally draws ~50 amps and something goes wrong one day and it starts pulling ~90 amps and you have a 300a fuse on the wire to protect the wire, then it's not going to blow. The amp could sit there and be drawing too much current until it smokes and the fuse wouldn't blow.