Fuses on distribution panel.

[maxhar]

The positive distribution panel that is inside my console looks like the following. It seems that it contains unconventional fuses. The fuses (are they fuses?) are not labelled with any current rating. I will be connecting a radio with 7.5amp inline fuse to here, will these distribution fuses cause any problems?



Thanks.

[Courageous]

They look remarkably familiar to me as the main type of fuse on motor vehicles back in the 60's thru to early 80's. They should have some type of rating on them mind. The only problem they are capable of causing is blowing if they are of a lower value than the amps you are looking to draw. If you are putting an in line fuse in anyway why not just connect that to the live feed?

[maxhar]

Thanks. The nav lights are running off the top one. For what it's worth I think I will just screw in on the input feed side; I have the inline fuse anyway.

[Hightower]

I think the rating is on the ceramic body of the fuse. Look at the 3rd fuse from the top I think it says 8A on it.

Probably not the best marine fuse to have as the ends tend to corrode. Much better are the blade fuses or better still get thermal resettable mini circuit breakers MCB

[maxhar]

It has a cover that goes over it.

[Hightower]

The cars I owned with this type of fuse constantly needed them cleaning and that wasn't in a Marine environment. Smear some Vasaline over the ends, that'll help.

[Cookee]

Personally I would remove it before it gives any trouble, it's not a marine item and as others have said they weren't that good in cars!

[wavelength]

I've had one of those in the past. Problem I found was that when replacing/fiddling with fuses the spring terminals they are lodged into get bent, lose the tension and the fuse departs the holder when the boat has a shock landing. Not that we ever have any hard landings of course--well none since yesterday afternoon

[doggypaddle]

Get rid of it! As mentioned its not a marine item and theyre really prone to corrosion, particularly at the fuse end because theyre aluminium and the dissimilar metals cause a corrosion cell. a reasonable cheap alternative is the moulded rubber cased blade fuse holders. you can get a 4 inline one, each fuse has a rubber cap and can be rammed full of vaseline.
I had one like yours on the landy and it left me in the dark too many times i think theyre OK mounted inside a DRY vehicle. no good in a landrover

[maxhar]

It doesn't get wet inside the console at all, we use the boat on the Thames and very rarely in choppy water.

The marine dealers that installed the outboard put it in, I would have thought they knew what they were doing.