I need to know what size fuse I need for my audio system. I will be running two class D amps each putting out 1000watts rms in a 2004 Honda Odyssey. I will run a single 1/0 gauge wire from the battery into a distribution block that will then split into three 4 gauge wires. In the future I plan to put a third amp in for my highs, that amp is only 100watts per channel and it will be a two channel amp. The class d amps each have a 60amp fuse in them. Any suggestions on a battery terminal that has a built in fuse?
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rasco1982
A 1/0 is rated for 300A, so THAT is the fuse value you need. We've been over this before: the underhood fuse is to protect the CABLE and the car, NOT to protect the amplifiers!
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It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."
of course if you want to truly protect the car there is no reason in the world to fuse it higher than the functional/needed current of the existing system....
if i ran power cable rated to say 150 amps and the customer was only using one amp with a current draw of 75 amps i would normally always fuse the primary at 80 or slightly higher.... why fuse it at 150? if 100 will more than do? when dealing with a potential dead short to ground i prefer to know that the fuse protection will kick in as fast as possible... a power cable will arc weld itself to the chassis before it blows a 300 amp fuse (keep in mind most ANL's are rated at 200% for 5 seconds)
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Kevin Gerry
Certified Electronics Technician
MECP First Class Installer
Owner/Installer
Classic Car Audio
since 1979
So are you saying since both amps each have a 60amp fuse I should use a fuse that is 120amps or greater? Also, should I put an inline fuse in the 1/0 gauge wire coming from the battery or should I put the fuse in the positive battery terminal?
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rasco1982
the primary wire must be fused within 12 inches of the battery (but the closer the better) and yes a 120 amp fuse is more than enough to allow sufficient current to your system.....
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Kevin Gerry
Certified Electronics Technician
MECP First Class Installer
Owner/Installer
Classic Car Audio
since 1979
Quite honestly, a dead short in the power wire will blow any fuse regardless of its value. And it won't take long...
But I agree with using what's appropriate for the system being used..but with a caveat. I run a 40 amp fuse in the main power wire in my car where if I fused to the value of the wire it should be 100 amps. That was for the purpose of saving a few bucks and taking advantage of fuses that come 5 to a pack. But I also know that I have to remember that the fuse value is lower than the wire value if I decide to upgrade my system later. That's the caveat.
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Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.