Fuses

asondhi

New Member
Jul 19, 2020
3
NY
So I've got an SNM 6 head warning/traffic bar and a Feniex fusion visor bar and some T3s.

I'm just wondering what fuse setup is recommended?
To my understanding it'd go:
Battery --> Fuse Box --> Switches --> Lights

Looking into a blue sea fuse block. What specific fuses would I want to run?
 

rongstad

Member
Jul 28, 2011
93
Texas
So I've got an SNM 6 head warning/traffic bar and a Feniex fusion visor bar and some T3s.

I'm just wondering what fuse setup is recommended?
To my understanding it'd go:
Battery --> Fuse Box --> Switches --> Lights

Looking into a blue sea fuse block. What specific fuses would I want to run?

IMHO, I'd use a circuit breaker less than 5 inches from the battery

Battery -->Circuit breaker --> Fuse Box --> Switches --> Lights

SNM = 10 amp fuse ( https://www.strobesnmore.com/assets/images/PDF/E66MAX-warning-traffic-install-guide.pdf )

Fusion Bar = 7.5 amp fuse (https://www.feniex.com/uploads/products/media/IM_FusionInteriorLightbar_2.0_Ew10w.pdf)

T3 = 1amp per each T3 = total amps needed (https://www.feniex.com/uploads/products/media/manual_46_1.pdf)

For the Circuit breaker add total amps and multiply by 125%. (ie. 10+7.5+4x125%=26.8amps; 30Amp circuit breaker)

I'd go with a 60 amp circuit breaker or 80 amp for future growth, to add more equipment (lights, siren, etc.) to the system.
 
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asondhi

New Member
Jul 19, 2020
3
NY
IMHO, I'd use a circuit breaker less than 5 inches from the battery

Battery -->Circuit breaker --> Fuse Box --> Switches --> Lights

SNM = 10 amp fuse ( https://www.strobesnmore.com/assets/images/PDF/E66MAX-warning-traffic-install-guide.pdf )

Fusion Bar = 7.5 amp fuse (https://www.feniex.com/uploads/products/media/IM_FusionInteriorLightbar_2.0_Ew10w.pdf)

T3 = 1amp per each T3 = total amps needed (https://www.feniex.com/uploads/products/media/manual_46_1.pdf)

For the Circuit breaker add total amps and multiply by 125%. (ie. 10+7.5+4x125%=26.8amps; 30Amp circuit breaker)

I'd go with a 60 amp circuit breaker or 80 amp for future growth, to add more equipment (lights, siren, etc.) to the system.
Thank you!! Very useful info, I appreciate it
 

MtnMan

Member
Dec 20, 2012
1,533
Eastern PA
The actual current draw of your equipment is 6 A each for the front and rear bars and 0.75 A for each T3, so your total will be around 18 to 20 A. Install a 30 A main fuse (not circuit breaker) close to the battery and run a 10 gauge feed to the fuse block or controller.
 
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rcfd34

Member
Oct 24, 2011
503
Illinois
All of our trucks have been converted to breakers over fuses off the battery. Not saying either one is better just easier and better for our applications
 

Da-Sarge

Member
Feb 27, 2020
393
Canada
Manufacturers reccamend fuses over breakers due to the possibility of the breaker failing to break the circuit over a fuse thats far more reliable to break the circuit in the event of a falt however these basis were back when breakers were not as good a quality as the ones today but since emergency equipment has to be 1000% reliable they still recommend using fuses over breakers you can however use a breaker along with a fuse to insure if the breaker fails and stays closed you have a redundant way to kill the power feed from the battery in the event of a falt my own setups are done this way using a 90A breaker behind a 100A fuse easily accessible in the event of an issue

Breakers are also very useful for vehicles that spend time sitting you can disable the emergency equipment to prevent battery drain (typical police car setup can kill a normal car battery in about 3-10 days maybe more depending upon configuration and amount of equipment installed)

I hope this clarifies the reasons why its recommended to use fuses over breakers but modern breakers are much more reliable but still not as reliable as a fuse
 

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