why fuse within 18'' of battery?

saterdaynight wrote: ...you would put the fuse at the beginning of the whole thing so that current would have to pass by the fuse before it got to anything valuable (as in your circuit) and knowing that things flow - to + makes me think the fuse would be better suted on the negitive side???

Ok, why would it matter if you fuse the -(beginning) or +(end) of the current flow? Can you have a complete circuit with out both being present? Wouldn't the fuse blow at the same moment regardless of where it is fused? Maybe it is my misunderstanding but, can one side of the fuse have more of a draw then the other side of the fuse?   The moment the fuse has to pass a current over the value of the fuse then it will blow, it is this way regardless of where it is. But wait, the fuse on the power wire is to protect the car NOT THE AMP!!! Ok, so that paragraph was pointless. Moving on, the 18 inch rule is only a rule for competition as you pointed out. It is a general rule of thumb when it comes to other installs, also it is generally recognized as the appropriate length by MECP. It would be best to fuse directly off of the battery.Certified Security Specialist

Always check info with a digital multimeter.

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ok, thats cool. makes sence, no need to get mad about it or anything...speed is my drug of choice, let me drive...

saterdaynight wrote: hello everyone. not to rain on anyones responces here, but i noticed that it has been said that current flows from + to -. i was taught that current flows from - to + so i went back to my electronics text book (electricity and electronics, by Howard H Gerrish and Willian E Dugger) and from it i will read (or rather type) what it has to say "There are two theories about the direction of current flow. the ELECTRON THEORY OF CURRENT FLOW defines the direction of electron flow as moving from NEGATIVE TO POSITIVE in the external circuit. Anouther theory, the CONVENTIONAL THEORY OF CURRENT FLOW states that current flows from POSITIVE TO NEGATIVE in the external circuit. in both cases, the current always flows in the opposite direction of the current in the voltage source." then it goes on to say that it will use the electron theory (- to+) and that is how every electronic circuit i have worked on has been. so.... it stands to logic that IF by that theory current flows - to + then everyone elses theory about wire shorting wouldnt make much sence, aditonaly, if you have say a current or voltage or both spike (what blows the fuse) remember that current flows at the speed of 186,000 miles per second (the speed of light) anyways, so the idea is to put the fuse at the source of the circuit, so that it will blow BEFORE it (current) reaches anything else... so if the standard, is for current to flow from negitive to positive, why would you put the fuse at the end of the circuit (the + end)??????? so i feel that the question goes unanswered, and i would realy like to find someone that knows. now, on the outher hand, the regulations for competition makes sence i suppose, but not putting the fuse at the wrong end of the circuit, and i will bet, that if you contact any manufacture of amplifier (that you own) and ask what direction current flows in THERE design, they will tell you - to +..... nateraly, all you beleivers that it flows + to - will tell me that (duhh, they put the fuse in the right place) but thats not what i was taught. anyway, just my 2 cents...

Thanks I just got out of my autimotive electroncs college class and that was what we were tought.