Fuses

jbob0124 · Post by **jbob0124** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 10:48 am

I was thinking the other day, if you are running 1/0 (or any other size for that matter) to the rear for power and you have it fused, wouldn't the fuse act as a "reducer" and restrict the amount of voltage allowed to pass through? I mean, we upgrade the three mains wires under the hood to allow for more juice in the time of need, but then slap a thin piece of metal in between the front and rear.

I'm not questioning the fuse method, or wanting to debate any variations of fusing, just simply thought of this and was wondering about it.

gbody805 · Post by **gbody805** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 10:53 am

Interesting thought.

Since most are always on the hunt for the biggest most flexable power wire that will fit.

oldschoolfan · Post by **oldschoolfan** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 10:57 am

Great thought, but the fuse is designed to carry the amount of amperage it is rated for.

jbob0124 · Post by **jbob0124** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 10:59 am

So you would get the same amount of power through a 1/0 as opposed to the thin piece of metal in a fuse?

gbody805 · Post by **gbody805** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 11:01 am

So maybe one large strip of copper is rated and can handle the same or more amperage the many smaller copper strands found bundled in the cable?

oldschoolfan · Post by **oldschoolfan** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 11:11 am

My understanding is that the only reason we really use stranded is for flexibility. If you look at the wire used from utility pole to utility pole, they are now moving to aluminum, but it used to all be solid copper, not stranded. Imagine the amperage carried down a length of that servicing just your street alone.

str3atwarrior · Post by **str3atwarrior** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 11:23 am

Not that big actually, since it goes from high voltage current to a transfo before going to your house, and there is a transfo for every 5-6 houses. The higher the voltage, the lower the amperage is needed. At least i know here in quebec the high voltage lines are 14 000volts, then they are switched to 110volts before going to your house...

str3atwarrior · Post by **str3atwarrior** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 11:26 am

I just called my ex boss to be sure, and appart from the connector lost, any fuse will pass the amount of amperage it's designed for. So it's no big deal...

But yeah, it was an interesting question!

gbody805 · Post by **gbody805** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 11:32 am

What I was thinking is the heat handling of the large fuse's sinlge strap of copper compared to the many smaller strands found in the power cable are equal.
Or maybe a little higher/lower since the fuse is meant to open before the wire has a chance to melt.

LT4 Hawk 9 · Post by **LT4 Hawk 9** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 12:04 pm

Once you get this one figured out, think about the fact that you stick a 4ga (or whatever) wire into your amp, then it reduces it to foil on a circuit board.

Post by **ttocs** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 12:04 pm

I think there is a very slight voltage loss but I mean less then .1 volt or so. They have reduced this even more by making some fuse holders that have 2 - 3 smaller fuses rather then one big one.

Now this voltage loss it negligable if you have ever seen a high curent unfused wire start to weld itself to the chassis....

jbob0124 · Post by **jbob0124** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 12:21 pm

I was just curious. I wouldn't install anything without a fuse. Im not concerned about the loss, just something that crossed my mind.

blind_ex · Post by **blind_ex** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 4:30 pm

got me thinking than..... why then not use... fat copper cable for juice as the one we got at home.they should resist temerature well...but the looks sucks.... well and be used in fixed locations...but we are not moving amps to often are we??
for speaker it must be down to impedance

but im a newbie.... so prolly im wrong about it

Post by **ttocs** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 4:44 pm

gbody805 · Post by **gbody805** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 4:48 pm

I think he's talking about using industrial solid core power cable for the power cable in an install.

blind_ex · Post by **blind_ex** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 4:49 pm

I was just wondering if a 1 fat single cable will hold amperage and volts rightly .....

gbody805 · Post by **gbody805** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 4:53 pm

Are you talking about the main power cable in a system?
From Battery to fuse blocks/amps?

Most systems use a large 0/1 ga multi strand cable. Something like 1400 strands in the cable bundle.

str3atwarrior · Post by **str3atwarrior** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 5:20 pm

The wires used in home usually have 4-5 strand only, and road vibration would simply make it snap in no time...

Post by **ttocs** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 5:23 pm

note my topic about my power wire snapping because it was soldered. The small vibrations made little cracks thate eventually became big cracks.

If I am not mistaken there is a dc current carrying advantage over the smaller stranded wires but it has been so long since I had my textbooks open that I can't really remember for sure.

blind_ex · Post by **blind_ex** » Sun Aug 08, 2010 3:50 am

well You all are right about it... but what about heavy duty ones....