HF Radio fuse

Hi Graham

Use the same fuse. Is it the white ceramic type?


Cheers



Stephen

Best to consult the manufacturer's installation instructions for your particular make and model. The handbook for my Barrett 950 specifies an "HRC rated 25A 240V" fuse in the 12V + cable, as close as practical to the battery end. My fuse is mounted in a bladed cradle that slots into a robust receiver (mounted on the firewall). BTW - the manufacturer expects the battery to deliver current at 13.8V, to gain optimum performance - below this (which would mostly be the case if the engine is off), the signal strength is reduced. The Barrett has a readout facility that can show the voltage applicable to the previous transmission .

yes they take a house fuse which has blades either end - not sure what there called but I recall our 70s built house had the same fuses.

a touch harder to find these days but the trick is to go to an electrical store not an automotive store.

couldnt tell you the ratianalle - i would have thought a maxi blade with a decent amp fuse would be as good or better
- perhaps thats why I dont build HF radios?

Hi Graham,

If it is a white ceramic cylindrical fuse rated at 30 Amp then it will be fine, best you can get in fact. The 415v is the rating of the maximum voltage of the circuit that the fuse should be used in.

It is a HRC fuse normally used in industrial applications. The "HRC" stands for High Rupture Capacity meaning that it is designed for applications where the fault current can be momentarily quite high, possibly several thousand Amps, such as will be experienced in electrical distribution systems with high current source of supply.

In general however, a 30 Amp automotive Maxi fuse will serve just as well in an automotive circuit.

Gday,
I inherited my radio from the old man......and yep....its got a bloody big old house type fuse in it. Its been with me for about 10 years, has never blown and neither has the radio.

Cheers

When I installed my Barrett, I just used a standard auto fuse, haven't had any issues using it.

Cheers
Leigh

I have just installed our Codan NGT into our 200LC from our Hilux and changed the fuse this time to a Narva Maxi fuse, I have no engine noise this time.

Christian

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Grahame,

The use of these ceramic fuseholders seems not uncommon for this purpose. Why? The only reason I can think of is that the great lump of ceramic might contain the molten fuse wire if it came to a sudden end. Seems to me an automotive type blade fuse or enclosed cartridge type would be contained just as well without occupying so much space. I use blade fuses throughout and the hf radio works just fine. I'd be interested to hear from a major manufacturer just why this practice has developed.

I agree with using a 30A fuse, but why such a monster?

Cheers

John

I am not a fan of automotive blade fuses.

I have had 3 regular sized (not mini or jumbo) fuse holder and fuse assemblies melt while carrying normal operating loads. In each case the max current was 30 or 25 or 6 amps. The fuses were 40, 40 and 10 respectively. In all cases the equipment they were protecting continued to work normally, and the melted fuse assemblies were discovered in routine inspections.

The two high current ones are in a protected area, clean and dry at all times. The 10 amp one is in the engine bay, protected from the elements but subject to engine heat and the occasional engine wash. All have rubber caps, supposedly to keep moisture out.

I replaced the two 40 amp fuses and holders with jumbo assemblies of the same rating. Bugger me, one of them has melted. So now they're being replaced with circuit breakers.

Perhaps the unreliability of consumer quality fuse holders such as mine is why a more industrial type has been chosen for the HF installation.

Cheers

Thanks everyone for your replies it looks like the old adage 'if it ain't broke don't fix it'.
I'll buy a spare but probably should not need it.
Thanks again
Cheers

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