Fuse protection??

[marty in Ohio]

For the past three days I have been chasing an electrical problem in the "A". It started with the horn and that was corrected, but I think there is a problem with the safety fuse on the starter. This was probably the first safety item I installed on the car twenty years ago. At first I pulled the fuse each time I parked the car and this eventually broke the fuse holder, so I bought another. I don't have a disconnect switch (kill switch) as I feel that it will only protect the wiring when the car is off.
What is the opinion of you Ford Barners, fuse or switch??

[Bruce Adams]

I feel that having both is appropriate. The fuse protects the low amperage items AFTER the starter while the battery switch cuts off the entire system and is easier than pulling a fuse out of its holder each time.

[JBill]

Originally Posted by Bruce Adams

I feel that having both is appropriate. The fuse protects the low amperage items AFTER the starter while the battery switch cuts off the entire system and is easier than pulling a fuse out of its holder each time.

What he said.

[Ed Saniewski]

I also have both, when I park the car in the barn I leave the left side hood open as a reminder so I know the battery is off. When I go to use one of the cars, I turn the battery switch on and check the oil before closing the hood.

[Kurt in NJ]

When I first put the car on the road 40 years ago I thought I had to have a fuse, the fuse holder failure caused a fire in the generator and needing a tow home on the first drive, took the fuse out,put the car back original, havn't been towed home since.

[fredski]

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Originally Posted by Kurt in NJ

When I first put the car on the road 40 years ago I thought I had to have a fuse, the fuse holder failure caused a fire in the generator and needing a tow home on the first drive, took the fuse out,put the car back original, havn't been towed home since.

has me worried how a fuse failure causes a fire. I just install one on my car. ? fredski

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by fredski

has me worried how a fuse failure causes a fire. I just install one on my car. ? fredski

If the fuse blows it disconnects the generator from the battery and the stock generator will put out up to 40 volts, which will fry the generator windings. That is one more advantage of having an electronic voltage regulator in the generator.

Tie a plastic wire tie around the fuse to make removal much easier.

[msmaron]

I use both...have lights, horn and turn signals on a separate fuse and then have a master 40amp fuse..IN addition I have a cut out switch. .Redundancy is fine with me,.,, If the light blow it won't take out all the other components and so on...

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Tom,
I use a 30 Amp, G.M. breaker for the main feed & separate 20 amp breakers for the horn & lights feed. THEN, if there's a short in the horn or lights, it'll kick out the respective breaker & WON'T screw up & FRY my charging system. The common 12 volt G.M. blade type breakers work fine on 6 Volt systems.
Bill W.

[marty in Ohio]

Thanks guys,
You have given me some very good points to ponder
Marty

[Tom Endy]

The fuse on top of the starter offers fire protection when the car is parked and unattended. Many owners, including myself, pull the fuse and stand it on its head at one end of the fuse clip when finished driving the car. This disconnects battery power to all the electrical loads except the starter switch.

A recent fire here in Southern California destroyed a shop and several Model A's. A customer's car was brought into the shop for repair, the fuse, if it had one, was not pulled. In the late evening hours a fire erupted in the cars wiring due to a short circuit somewhere in the car.

When a car is being driven the fuse is not protecting any of the electrical loads as current is being supplied direct to the loads from the generator or alternator. The only current flowing through the fuse is the amount of current going to the battery to charge it. In this case there is little chance the fuse will blow during driving. However, if it should as soon as the engine comes to idle and the generator or alternator are no longer supplying power the engine will stall because the blown fuse will prevent battery power from reaching the ignition.

Should the fuse blow or fall out during driving the generator will run wild and burn itself up along with any lights turned on. This a downside to installing a fuse on the starter. However, my view is that this is preferable to the car burning up in the garage during the night.

Tom Endy

[Jeff/Illinois]

I have run a fuse too, for years no problems so far.

I reach in thru the battery cover plate and pull the neg. cable off when I park the car too, for peace of mind. Pos. cable clamped tight, neg. not so tight a snug press on fit.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Those aftermarket main fues holders are CHEEP SHIT! IF you insist on using one, get a quality heavy duty one, with spring loaded gripper goodies! The Dog tole me to tole you this, he reviews EVERY new Model A catalogs thet comes in the Snailbox!----Bill W.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

Those aftermarket main fues holders are CHEEP SHIT! IF you insist on using one, get a quality heavy duty one, with spring loaded gripper goodies! The Dog tole me to tole you this, he reviews EVERY new Model A catalogs thet comes in the Snailbox!----Bill W.

The newer ones I've seen at alot better then the ones sold a few years ago.

[H. L. Chauvin]

Hi Marty,

FWIW: Maybe the later versions of starter mounted fuse holders are more reliable; however, just one experience after learning about several multiple vintage engine failing experiences.

Just in case you would ever call "Fun Projects", Electrical Engineer Mr. John C. Regan, who manufactures electrical products for Model T's & Model A's in St. Charles, IL, you will receive far more than an ear full of his actual experiences, & those many experiences of his customers, as to how these unpredictable starter mounted fuses have in the past totally ruined well planned tours attended by multiple Model A's & Model T's with roadside breakdowns.

After my Model A vendor offered starter mounted fuse was failing, & conducting intermittently, I called him & later ordered his inexpensive "rain proof" Model A/Model T fuse holder, painted it black, & never looked back.

Also threw away my starter mounted fuse holder bought years ago.

For total "peace of mind", it appears that the idea of a metal starter mounted fuse holder with electrical connections subject to becoming loose with engine vibrations ........ as well as it being horizontally exposed to humidity, wet highways, oxidation, & corrosion, in a well ventilated engine compartment behind a Model A fan pushing rain through radiator fins, that this design may never be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

I observed a Model A with all stock wiring, EXCEPT, the battery cable was secured to the starter switch with a LARGE WING nut.----"YEP, just in case my starter switch ever sticks again, I can screw that dude off with my fingers, without a wrench throwing out sparks & welding itself to the steering gearbox"! A cut-off switch would have been a better option.---Bill W.

[H. L. Chauvin]

After buying & installing the "new" starter switches offered today by Model A vendors, I immediately drove up to my son's house to pick him up to go to his wedding.

Then after several of us got in the Town Sedan, the engine started immediately & the "new" starter switch got stuck & was rotating while the engine was idling.

The young passengers all looked at one another; but none had a clue what to do.

After, I slowly got out & reached down, (while in my tux), & pulled the starter pedal out at the floor board.

Not many of these young gentlemen, (except for my trusting son), felt confident that we could make it to the church & furthermore, later drive 11 miles to the reception.

I told them the moral of this story was: A few drinks before a wedding can always make one think clearly to handle any type of problem.