Fusible link to circuit breaker help

[Eric M.]

I did something dumb and fried my fusible link in my K3500. I was going to replace it but thought why not install a circuit breaker.
Does anyone know what AMP rating the breaker should be? What is the AMP rating of a fusible link in an 82 K3500 loaded (A/C, power everything, etc.).

Any recommendations for a breaker before I head on down to Kragens?

Thanks,

Eric M.

 

[4X4HIGH]

I would just replace the fusible link wire with a new one of the proper size. Unless you do something "dumb" fusible link wires rarely fail.

 

[odin]

I personally think fusible links are a real dip**** idea.

On my rig and my other cars 71 SS396 Camaro and 81 Z28 I eliminated the fuse links with 20 Amp breakers.

 

[dremu]

I did something dumb and fried my fusible link in my K3500. I was going to replace it but thought why not install a circuit breaker.
Does anyone know what AMP rating the breaker should be? What is the AMP rating of a fusible link in an 82 K3500 loaded (A/C, power everything, etc.).

Any recommendations for a breaker before I head on down to Kragens?

Thanks,

Eric M.

IIRC there are multiple fusible links, at least on the older trucks. I remember them being color coded, i.e. an orange one was so many amps, the red one another rating, etc. Monument has them in with the crimp connectors and pigtails and such, labelled "GM Fusible Link".

I'm with Scott; I say replace it with another fusible link. They're cheap (<$5) and should never blow, unless you hook the battery in backwards. It wasn't me that did it, but another guy here who shall remain nameless. I was helping him work on his rig and looked away for just a moment and then SSSSSSSSSSSZAP, sparks and noise That's the last time I assume people know red from black =))

You could put in a breaker, but I don't know what the duty cycle is for either -- like a fuse will take 150% of its rating for 1 second, and 200% of its rating for .25 seconds (I'm making the numbers up, but you get the idea.)

I'm thinking the fusible link would prolly pop quicker than a breaker; if so, you would NOT want to have a breaker instead, cuz by the time the breaker popped something could be on fire.

-- A

 

[AJMBLAZER]

If it's the main 12v wire consider a 40 or 50 amp fuse holder. NAPA has them but they are big and they take the maxi fuses. Smalltruckbigcid explained it to me and had a good point that these trucks with the lights on, some offroad lights, the radio cranking, heater going, maybe even a winch and what not have at least 20 amps going. 30 wouldn't be hard to see either. I put a 50 amp in mine and actually have used it once. Touched a hot wire to the stereo to the firewall......blew a $2.69 cent fuse and had it replaced in less than five minutes instead of having to reinstall a fusible link.

 

[Eric M.]

maybe even a winch and what not have at least 20 amps going.

Hmmmm, maybe that's where I went wrong, I hooked up my winch downstream of the fusible link!

Sorry, that'll be my last smart a** response for tonight .


Aaron,

Thanks for the color coding info. on the fusible links, I didn't know that. I couldn't find any fusible links at Kragen, I'll keep looking and make sure I have the correct color.

Thanks,

Eric M.

 

[dremu]

Hmmmm, maybe that's where I went wrong, I hooked up my winch downstream of the fusible link!

Sorry, that'll be my last smart a** response for tonight .


Aaron,

Thanks for the color coding info. on the fusible links, I didn't know that. I couldn't find any fusible links at Kragen, I'll keep looking and make sure I have the correct color.

Thanks,

Eric M.

NAPA lists 'em in orange, green, and black, and various stud sizes (5/16" and 3/8" that I saw.) Four bucks a pop on the web, local stores will of course vary.

-- A

 

[77crewcab]

Why not just get a 50A resetable circuit breaker. If if blows for some reason push the reset button and continue on your merry way. BTW semi-trucks use circuit breakers all the time in place of fuses with no problems.

 

[ryoken]

cuz thats not what the "genuis GM engineers originally had"...

screw fusable links, it's a horrible idea... I build DC systems daily that are all breakers.. far superior...

 

[C4]

 

[77crewcab]

Um those are relays not circuit breakers.

This is one style of resetable breakers there are many styles.

http://www.delcity.net/delcity/servlet/catalog?parentid=193072&page=1

 

[ryoken]

 

[Eric M.]

I'm thinking the one of the fuses ny-tied to the relays are the fusible link replacement? How big is the fuse, 50 amps? That's sort of what I was planning on doing, just got lazy and put in a new fusible link.

Eric M.