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Author Topic: Auxilliary Power Outlet  (Read 1076 times)

Offline Bob_Roller

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Auxilliary Power Outlet
« on: September 01, 2012, 02:56:15 PM »
Anyone have any idea what the fuse rating should be on the aux power outlet circuit ?

I am just using this for charging purposes, no powered accessories will be plugged into it .
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Offline Barry

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Re: Auxilliary Power Outlet
« Reply #1 on: September 01, 2012, 03:17:17 PM »
Fuses should be rated to protect the wiring so choose the fuse according to the gauge of wire used. The design intent is that under short circuit conditions the fuse will blow before the wiring is damaged.

I'll never forget the scene in a college carpark. My mate had "repaired" a fuse on his 60's Triumph Bonneville which kept blowing by wrapping it in silver paper from a cigarette packet. When the intermittent short circuit that had been blowing his fuse occurred again the wiring glowed red hot and the insulation went up in smoke as he rushed to disconnect the battery. Seems funny now but was seriously scary at the time.
« Last Edit: September 01, 2012, 03:20:17 PM by bhodgson »
Barry Cheshire, England 79 R45

Offline montmil

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Re: Auxilliary Power Outlet
« Reply #2 on: September 01, 2012, 03:34:21 PM »
Quote
Anyone have any idea what the fuse rating should be on the aux power outlet circuit ?

I am just using this for charging purposes, no powered accessories will be plugged into it .

I have an aftermarket power socket on the Triumph Trophy 900. It has a 15A blade-style fuse mounted close to the battery.
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bruce_launceston

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Re: Auxilliary Power Outlet
« Reply #3 on: September 01, 2012, 08:45:50 PM »
Factory fitted fuse was 8 amp I believe, 15 amp should be okay.

Offline Barry

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Re: Auxilliary Power Outlet
« Reply #4 on: September 02, 2012, 02:50:49 AM »
A 15 Amp fuse will be fine - provided the cable is rated for 15A  If it's not use a smaller fuse.

Bear in mind that a 15A fuse will take 30A for up to 5 secs and if you want to blow it even moderately fast like 1 sec then it will take up to 60A.

On the other hand if you are using the power outlet for charging bear in mind fuses have a volt drop (they wouldn't work if they didn't). A 15 amp fuse will drop 0.1 volts at it's rated current but smaller fuses tend to drop proportionally more volts so that a if you put 2A through a 2A fuse it will drop closer to 0.2 volts. That might not sound much but it could upset the operation of an automatic battery charger because the voltage at the battery terminals will be lower than the voltage at the charger outlet.  Best option then would be big fuse matched by appropriately big cable.

« Last Edit: September 02, 2012, 03:25:37 AM by bhodgson »
Barry Cheshire, England 79 R45