replacing fues with circuit breakers...

[sholdowa]

I'd really like to do this, but at the moment all I can find are aircraft quality ones at c. $50 each! 9 http://www.msel.co.nz/epages/motorsport ... reakers%22 )

Any ideas where i can get them cheaper? I really don't need this quality!!!

Cheers,

Steve

[fulloc]

Narva do them so should be cheap enough through repco/ partmaster etc

[Unclejake]

You can get marine c/b panels too. Possibly cheaper that the aircraft ones and probably better than the Narva product (I am a bit anti Narva though)

I am not recommending the below, just pointing it out V

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 985527.htm

[Bombsquad]

if you dont wanna use Fues then try some Farbetweens.

[phr34kr]

http://www.andymark.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=41

these breakers are really good and fit into fuse holders, but they will rape you with US$80 shipping, if you know someone in the states that could get them then ship them onto you might be a good option especially with the exchange rate.

Edit: they are also auto resetting.

[isnowi]

I made a panel up with these in them for one of my old projects, seemed to do the biz.

(Click on pic for link)

Only available up to 15 amps though.

[cubastreet]

jaycar ones might be the go if ur up for making ur own panel

http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productResults. ... SUBMIT.y=0

[sholdowa]

Thanks heaps folks. Where can I find more out about these auto resetting ones?

[phr34kr]

You could possibly try emailing the company that produces them to et a more detailed specifications

http://www.snapaction.net/index.htm?include=mx5.inc

also these seem to be the same sort of thing but i have not had any personal experience with this brand unlike the others.

http://www.wiringproducts.com/contents/en-us/d28.html

With the first breakers i was talking about they will automatically reset either straight away (before breaking again) to control the current or they may reset after a set time, it is a while since i have tripped them, although i could test this if you wish.

Im afraid i cant give any more help in where to attain them, or if they are even available in the country as the ones i use have all been imported from the USA.

[Ned]

Those jaycar SF2252-61 ones are fairly average from what i've seen and big. (have a broken treadmill at work ATM where that thing broke)

Will have a quick hunt through some suppliers tomorrow for you. Doubt you'd want to but you could run PTCs (resettable fuse) they just get hot when too much current flows and then break circuit. Really only good for when you have a direct short or something or else they take a little time to 'blow' but then once you fix the fuck-up, it cools down and works again (simplest explanation i could think of)

[Poo]

yeah first Jaycar 100A that I got was faulty.

the replacement seems fine.

[David]

You can always go for the good old demestic DIN mount MCB.

Plus there is many sizes of MCB enclosures on the market.

They are normaly priced between $5 - $10 each

The biggest problem with automotive C/B's is there poor ability to interupt high foult currents with out blowing there guts out. A cheapy will only trip once of twice under a good short.

When selecting a C/B you need to take a good look at its maximum rated DC short circuit current. The larger the battery and cable the more current it can give during a short circuit. Add an audio capacitor and look out foult currents.

[sholdowa]

You can always go for the good old demestic DIN mount MCB.

I was hoping someone would mention this... I am a total idiot when it comes to this. So it doesn't matter whether it's AC or DC then? A 10A circuit breaker is 10A for 12V DC as well as 240V AC?

[UTERUS]

Na, but you can get din mounted MCB's (miniature circuit breakers) rated for DC.

Basically, since AC is all groovy like and goes negative half the time it is easier to switch.

DC is all I'M MAX VOLTAGE ALL THE TIMEEEEEE BROOOOOOOO so it's harder to fuck it off.

[David]

DIN mount MCB's are good for DC and AC currents.

There used to protect DC currents in switchboards all the time.

Yes it’s true that on a percentage basis there is lower arks generated when opening and AC current rather than a DC current. This is well known and means a switching component designed for AC is normally dramatically derated when used to switch DC. This however leads to a common assumption that MCB's would need to be derated or not up to job of DC currents.

Instead of a derating system, MCB's use a more accurate maximum breaking current rating, plus for many other reasons. Basically if a MCB is rated at 6000 amps breaking it is capable of suppressing a 6000 amp ark regardless if it’s AC or DC current.

You just need to calculate a maximum fault current for your automotive system to ensure it will do the job.

Well take a 10amp 6000AmpMax DIN mount MCB and wire between the positive and negative of your car battery and keep resetting and see how long it lasts. Once it's too hot and wont reset again, let it cool down and go for it again. You will be there a long time before you wreak it. (Don’t try this at home).

[UTERUS]

Yea very well put, I'm just lazy and wasn't keen to write all that out. Also I should have said I never used to use AC rated mcb's in DC boards or partitions as I'm a fussy cunt and It would look wrong