Volks,
Those of you putting in auxiliary batteries might want to look at the ABI
Bussman fuse at the web site:
http://www.bussman.com/Library/BUSS_Auto-OEM.pdf  (this requires the Acrobat
Reader to down load)
I'm far far far from an automotive electrical engineer. But it seems to me
that this fuse would be well suited to protect the auxiliary battery
application. It is rated high enough to not blow even under maximum charging
amps from the alternator, and yet it seems it would blow in the event of an
accidental grounding of the wire running from the + post of the main battery
under the van. Seems like it could be bolted onto the + terminal clamp bolts
and then the wire bolted to it.... one at each battery + terminal since
current could come from either or both batteries in the event of a
catastrophic grounding. I'm open to comments.
Bill
90 Westy Syncro
Lake Tahoe
-----Original Message-----
From: kenneth d lewis <kdlewis@JUNO.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Wednesday, February 17, 1999 7:29 PM
Subject: Re: Battery Circuit Breaker

>Joshua;
>        Fuse ratings can really get bewildering. At work I probably could
>find a dozen different 2 amp fuses, fast blow, slo blow, 125v, 250v, 10v,
>etc.. You almost need an engineering degree. That's why I am hesitant to
>recommend a battery fuse. Apply a mismatch and without fail you will find
>yourself in the middle of nowhere, "dead in the water".
>Drive Safely & Good Luck
>Ken Lewis<Kernersville,NC>86 VW crewcab;60 T-5 Coupe
>
>On Wed, 17 Feb 1999 19:07:17 -0600 Joshua Van Tol <jjvantol@USWEST.NET>
>writes:
>>
>>You'll have problems with nuisance blowing if you only go 25% over
>>capacity. Typical sizing is 1.5 to 2.0 times the rated current. Some
>>loads, such as motors, have fuses that are sized to take the turn on
>>current, which could be several times higher than the running current.
>>
>>As an example of what I'm talking about, your headlights are probably
>>45 W low beams. They have a 10A fuse, which translates to a load of
>>10 * 14 = 140 W at 14 volts.
>>
>>As you say, there's really no good way to fuse the battery lead.
>>You'd need a 400 A fuse or so, and that really wouldn't do any good
>>unless the power lead fell off and touched the frame.
>>
>>Joshua Van Tol -- jjvantol@uswest.net
>>
>
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