The Ford Barn

rotorwrench · 08-12-2020, 09:53 AM

I will repeat this for clarity. A fuse or other form of circuit protection is there to protect the WIRE and not the component. Each size of wire will use a certain size circuit protective device dictated by the electrical engineers that calculated the amp rating protective device charts to include all the available American Wire Gauge sizes of conductor wire. To use a larger device rating is not going to protect the wire at all. A lower rated device is fine since this is commonly done to help protect the electrical component and especially sensitive electrical devices like radios and GPS units.

Common 6-volt sizes and ratings (the largest rating that will still protect the wire)
16 gauge wire needs a 10-amp fuse
14 gauge wire needs a 15-amp fuse
12 gauge wire needs a 20-amp fuse
10 gauge wire needs a 30-amp fuse
8 gauge wire needs a 50-amp fuse
Circuit breakers can have higher ratings but fuses are more limited.

08-12-2020, 09:53 AM	#21
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,426	Re: ALT Fuse I will repeat this for clarity. A fuse or other form of circuit protection is there to protect the WIRE and not the component. Each size of wire will use a certain size circuit protective device dictated by the electrical engineers that calculated the amp rating protective device charts to include all the available American Wire Gauge sizes of conductor wire. To use a larger device rating is not going to protect the wire at all. A lower rated device is fine since this is commonly done to help protect the electrical component and especially sensitive electrical devices like radios and GPS units. Common 6-volt sizes and ratings (the largest rating that will still protect the wire) 16 gauge wire needs a 10-amp fuse 14 gauge wire needs a 15-amp fuse 12 gauge wire needs a 20-amp fuse 10 gauge wire needs a 30-amp fuse 8 gauge wire needs a 50-amp fuse Circuit breakers can have higher ratings but fuses are more limited.