Do we need fuses?

[Simon B]

Forgive the title, I think we do but am interested in technical opinion;

Do you actually need a fuse in the circuit for individual items or can one rely on the inline fuses (if you remember where they are) or use one fuse to cover the whole lot?!

There is a debate currently within our club, I want to hold out and fit a fusebox for individual items (fused separately).

Others feel a Rib is adequately protected with one large fuse.

Others still think that the surface mounted glass cartridge fuses by the switch on the face of the console are good enough and trouble free.

[ashbypower]

I’m with you fuse everything independently a far safer and sensible option. Ask the doubters this. Why do’s a house have a main fuse (100 Amp+) then fuse individual circuits and finally the appliance?

Regards

Brian

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by ashbypower

I’m with you fuse everything independently a far safer and sensible option. Ask the doubters this. Why do’s a house have a main fuse (100 Amp+) then fuse individual circuits and finally the appliance?

Regards

Brian

When the bilge pump blows the main fuse and it's dark how are you going to see to fix it?

[DJL]

The point of a fuse is to stop to much current being drawn through a piece of wire and melting it which could lead to a fire. If you just have say one 15amp fuse for all your electronics, then it’s possible that you could be asking the 22gauge wire running to your faulty GPS to carry 15amp when it’s only designed for 3.

Not to mention your don't really want to blow the only fuse at night and loose all your lights, GPS, depth sounder, bilge pump.... much better to just loose one.

I would highly recommend fitting a fuse box and fuse everything independently.

[Jono]

..or perhaps spend a few "sheckells" and buy some nice circuit breakers. Easy to re-set in a difficult sitaution.. once you have correct the problem... much easier.. in my opinion.. than feckin' about with fuse boxes in the wet and cold...and usually dark.... marine ones are available... just got to find them.. when I remember where I saw them... and I'm going to retrofit them to my boat when I can find the motivation to get off my arse and do it....

[Rogue Wave]

Fuses Yeah, MCB's no! You can tell that Mr Jono lives inland!

My experience of MCB's is that they deteriate quite badly over time and fail to function, they esentialy don't like the salt content in the air.

[DJL]

You can buy a little circuit breaker blade fuse that fits in a normal blade fuse box.

[Jono]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

Fuses Yeah, MCB's no! You can tell that Mr Jono lives inland!

My experience of MCB's is that they deteriate quite badly over time and fail to function, they esentialy don't like the salt content in the air.

I saw that... what? Even the ones tucked inside a console in their own little, snug housing? I bow to your more extensive experience.... especially at "fings wot brake"... but I've seen problems with blade/glass type fuses corroding in their sockets and the solution of filling them with petroleum jelly.. doesn't seem quite right.... anything that relies on a push fit in a hostile environment is a potential.. .. weakness that I'd like to avoid ...where possible.....

[Simon B]

Thanks chaps that's just what I'd hoped you'd all say. One last question, I believe it is a sensible idea to keep the sounder and GPS circuits separate as sounders can draw larger currents is this correct? (the eagle cuda we have is fused with a 250v fuse as supplied by Eagle)

[DJL]

It's sensible to keep the sounder and GPS circuits separate because you only lose the faulty device not both.

However, a newish depth sounder will only use a couple of amps - probably about twice a GPS.