Fuses

[cowsurgeon]

Driving to work today and my new radio stopped working suddenly, along with the gear selector display on the dashboard. It happened when a particularly loud bass part of the music started (which may have just been a total coincedence).

A quick look at the handbook showed fuse number 17 in the right hand bank in the passeneger footwell was the likely culprit, and sure enough, on inspection, it has blown.

The handbook states it ought to be 5 amps, but when I got it out it was 7.5 - must have been replaced at some point in the past.

My question is whether I ought to replace it for a 5 amp fuse, a 7.5 amp fuse or even a 10 amp fuse? Do newer, more powerful stereos need a higher amp fuse to allow them to draw the power they need, or is it likely there's a problem somewhere? Did maserati put a 5 amp one in as the becker factory fitted radio only needed that size fuse?

The fuse that comes built in to the new stereo's wiring loom hasn't blown, which to me indicates that the stereo itself isn't faulty, and is operating within its manufacturer's limits.

What do you guys think?

Cheers for the advice - as always!

 

[conaero]

Chris, what amp is the fuse inline to the stereo?

The reason why a 7.5 amp fuse was fitted where a 5 amp was supposed to be, will be down to 2 reasons:

1. It blew, there were now 5 amp fuses spare, so 7.5 amp was the next best thing.
2. The 5 amp kept blowing, so upping it to a 7.5 amp remedied it.

If I were you stick in a 5 amp if it blows within a month, replace it with a 7.5 amp.

Your new hifi has its own protection, so you wont damage it.

 

[cowsurgeon]

Hi Matt,
Thanks for the reply - the in-line fuse is 10 amps. I've done the same thing temporarily - there were no 5 or 7.5 amp fuses spare, so I used a 10 - will get some lower one later today though...

Cheers

 

[conaero]

So Chris, putting a 10 amp fuse in there would not have any effect on the hifi but would on the other services. Stick with the 7.5, its worked fine to date?

 

[cowsurgeon]

Cheers Matt, It has so far - I'll get a 7.5 today and change it back over.

 

[rob4wd]

fuses are rated to protect the wiring. if you up the rating of the fuse you are potentially allowing wiring to carry more current than it is designed to do. in practice upping to 7.5 isn't a great deal and probabaly wont cause a problem but in theory it is dangerous due to the increase in heat. just saying.

regards

rob

 

[conaero]

fuses are rated to protect the wiring. if you up the rating of the fuse you are potentially allowing wiring to carry more current than it is designed to do. in practice upping to 7.5 isn't a great deal and probabaly wont cause a problem but in theory it is dangerous due to the increase in heat. just saying.

regards

rob

Chris, Rob appears to know more about this, so would follow his advice.

 

[cowsurgeon]

Wilco!
Thanks Rob