Re: RE: Fuse wires ? Really ?

On 5/22/2025 2:02 PM, Carl Ijames wrote:

On Wed May 21 21:08:57 2025 Snag  wrote:

   While on a familiarization trip thru my downloaded owner/operator
manual for the antique Yanmar YM1500D tractor I just bought (mfd
1975-79) I saw a fuse box ... so I decided to go exploring ! And I found
that fuse box , and I popped  the cover off , and I found ... fuse wires
on screw terminals ! OK , it ain't exactly state of the art , but it
fills the need . I also found tucked in the cover a small plastic
package of what I assume to be fuse wires . What I don't know is what
the amperage rating of these wires is - I'm hoping one of you might have
an idea  . Eventually I will replace this fuse box with a unit that has
plug in fuses , but for right now I'm going to clean up the original and
see if I can get the lights/horn/turnsigs working .
    I have been bitten by The Tractorbug . And it feels great . I gotta
get this one running well so I can do some much-needed and well-deserved
repairs/maintenance to Rusty , a 1982 JD 317 . He's been a great little
tractor , but he just doesn't have the (m)ass to get the needed traction
. This new tractor will be able to drag logs out of the woods that would
just laugh at Rusty spinnin' his wheels futilely .
-- Snag
We live in a time where intelligent people
are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.

 The GM factory service manual for my 86 Regal says that fusible links are four wire gauges smaller than the wire they are to protect, and MUST be shorter than 9".  So if you have a circuit wired with 12 ga wire you would use a piece of 16 ga wire shorter than 9" as a fusible link to protect that circuit.  Here's their discussion:
 "Fusible Links
I n addition t o circuit breakers and fuses,
some circuits use fusible links t o protect the
wiring. Like fuses, fusible links are "one time "
protection devices that will melt and create an
open circuit (see Figure 3).
Not all fusible link open circuits can be
detected by observation. Always inspect that
there is Battery voltage past the fusible link to
verify continuity.
Fusible links are used instead of a fuse in
wiring circuits t h a t are not normally fused,
such as the ignition circuit. Each fus'ibke link is
four wire - gauge sizes smaller than the cable it
is designed t o protect. Links are marked on the
insulation with wire - gauge size because the
heavy insulation makes the link appear t o be a
heavier gauge than i t actually is. The same
wire size fusible link must be used when replac -
ing a blown fusible link.
Fusible links are available with two types of
insulation: Hypalon'"' and SiliconelGXL (SILI
GXL). Service fusible links made with SILl
GXL may be used to replace either Hypalon "
or SILlGXL fusible links. Service fusible links
made with Hypalon " ' may only be used t o
replace Hypalon'"' fusible links. To determine
the fusible link type: nick the insulation of the
blown fusible link with a knife. SILlCXL will
have a white inner core under the outer color.
Hypalon " ' insulation is one color. Service fusi -
ble links are available in many lengths. Choose
the shortest length that is suitable. If the fusi -
ble link is to be cut from a spool, N E V E R make
a fusible link longer than 228 mm (9 in).
CAUTION: Fusible links cut longer than
228 m'm (9 in) will not provide sufficient
overload protection.
To replace a damaged fusible link, cut i t off
beyond the splice. Replace with a repair link.
When connecting t h e repair link, strip wire
and use staking - type pliers to crimp the splice
securely in two places (see Figure 4). For more
details on splicing procedures see Splicing
Copper Wire."
 Hope that helps.
Carl

Speaking of oddities.  A fairly common line of fire alarm panels have (had?) a fusible trace on the back of the circuit board.  The most common cause of that trace blowing was somebody trying to save some money and change out the backup batteries themselves only to momentarily hook them up backwards.  Its the only line of control panel I know of that uses the trace.  If I was a douche bag I could have charged them for a new control panel and all the associated labor, but usually I just left the control on my back work bench for 20 minutes while I went in the office to think about.  When I would get back to it some how it would exchanged out by the alarm panel fairy to a panel with a pigtail fuse holder soldered on in where the fusible trace used to be.  Nobody in my shop would modify a fire alarm panel, so it can only be explained by magic fairies.  Kinda like the tooth fairy, but for an exponential increase in value.
Most/all other panels use a serviceable fuse or just shut down until the fault is corrected.
I do recall a burglar alarm panel that had a soldered on main power glass fuse, but I don't recall it ever blowing out.
--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff
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