Is this a big deal?

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Jul 20, 2010
81
Precision P28 Lake Ouachita
I jinstalled my new battery charger yesterday and Guest advises to fuse the DC outputs...10 amps on battery output nbr 1 and 15 amps on battery output nbr. 2. All I had on the boat was a 15 amp and a 20. Is this a big deal or do I need to go buy a 10 amp fuse and change them out. The battery charger and batteries seem to be happy.
 
Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
i Jinstalled My New Battery Charger Yesterday And Guest Advises To Fuse The Dc Outputs...10 Amps On Battery Output Nbr 1 And 15 Amps On Battery Output Nbr. 2. All I Had On The Boat Was A 15 Amp And A 20. Is This A Big Deal Or Do I Need To Go Buy A 10 Amp Fuse And Change Them Out. The Battery Charger And Batteries Seem To Be Happy.
While It Would Depend On The Rating Of The Charger, The Manufacturer Probably Knows What Is Best. Having Said That, Bear In Mind The Fuse Is Mostly There To Prevent Wiring Overload. If You Go With The Fuses You Have On Hand You'd Really Want A Spare One Anyway, So Get The 10 And Keep The 20 As A Spare.
 
Dec 2, 2003
1,637
Hunter 376 Warsash, England --
Spare a thought for the poor equipment designer

Spare a thought for the poor old equipment designer. He wants to ensure you get best performance from your (his?) battery charger.
He needs to protect it against long term overloads as well as momentary events when somebody either overloads or shorts the output - or worse you connect your batteries or the charger's leads the wrong way round!

He knows that 10 amp fuses will carry 20 amps continuously (just), they need 50 amps to make them blow in 1 second and need 150 amps to blow in a tenth of a second. Add 50% to all above for 15 amp fuses. His electronic components need to withstand this.

What is he to do to save you from yourself?
He simply states the fuse rating which he has tested his charger to be capable of withstanding. If he had designed for, and so thought, a higher rating was correct he would have tested for this and suggested it.

On the other hand, you, as the customer, have perfect freedom to use any fuse you like and any gauge of wiring you like; but please don't grumble if it all turns to dust - or do I mean ashes?
Insurers take a hard view on such matters too, particularly when there are ashes.

Fuses are for when things go wrong. Your present fuses are fine until something does go wrong and then you will not have the necessary protection.
Fuses are cheap. No need for you to be cheap too.

Guess what I did for part of my working life?
Sorry for the little homily.
 
Jan 22, 2008
880
Fed up w/ personal attacks I'm done with SBO
Equally important I think is the possibility of voiding the warranty by not installing according to mfr's instructions. Heaven forbid you need to use the warranty but if you do, you don't want to give them any excuses to start the weasel dance.
 
Jul 20, 2010
81
Precision P28 Lake Ouachita
Thanks to everyone. Guess it's better to follow the mfg. suggestions than to wonder what might happen if you don't. Next time I am at the boat the fuses will be changed out.
 
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