×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Two Easy Fusible Link Questions

Two Easy Fusible Link Questions

Two Easy Fusible Link Questions

(OP)
I searched for "fusible link" and got no results...so here are my questions.

After luckily averting an alternator-short-circuit fire (my wife's Mercedes 1982 380SL)...I have been rewiring the charging and starting circuits.  In my case I am using new 0 gauge cable.  My question is, would it be advisable to add fusible links into the alternator and/or starter circuits to ensure I avoid any future maladies.

If yes, here is a follow-up question...just so I understand the logic of using 0 gauge 'cause it carries so much current and along with a tiny little link that doesn't in the same circuit:

Assume I am using an Optima 1000 CCA battery...is there a fusible link that will know when the current flowing through it is OK and when it's bad?  I'm not quite sure how this would work in practice.  Thanks.

RE: Two Easy Fusible Link Questions


Where did you "search"? Even if you misspell it there is lots of stuff. You might try fusable instead. Lots of information.

Fusable links are almost never put in the starter wire, and not real popular in the charge wire. Part of this is because they are high amp items and part is because the wires are relatively short and controllable.

Out guaging a fusible link makes sense only to avoid current loss down the line, and no sense for capacity.

The only bad current is overcurrent.

There are fusable links out there and even GM sells them.

You could throw them in for peace of mind but major alternator short-outs are quite rare and fusable links are not always the most reliable thing around. They are like stress risers and ocassionally go bad, perhaps from a combination of current and vibration.

 

RE: Two Easy Fusible Link Questions

(OP)
Thanks so much for the input...that's just the kind of input I'm looking for.  Dave

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources