Fried Fuse Holder

[CHEVMARO6]

OK guys/gals, this is my problem.

I have a Fosgate Punch 500.2, bridged - with an Audiobahn Alum12 (3 ohm load) on Sunday, the city was 'Hopping' so I decides to take my volume, to where it had never been before (Lights dimming). After about an hour of Quaking, the amp cut off (First Time for This) So I assumed it simply overheated - After a cool down period it came back on. At this point, I decided to keep the volume respectable, and it cut off in less than 5 min. and did not come back on. Now I am thinking fuse.

I open the hood to find my fuse holder (50-amp) melted around the fuse.

I have 8 gauge power wire, I am pretty sure 4 gauge wire and a larger fuse will allow me to act an A_ _, with no fried fuse holders.

Any input????? [img]graemlins/crybaby.gif[/img]

[Backfire]

Was the fuse blown?? What style fuse and holder do you use? I assume it melted due to the current in the wire and not because it's too close to the engine. Something seems odd that the fuse holder would heat up enough to melt but the fuse would be ok??

Wire Gauge Capacity

That site gives some estimates on power/current capacity of wires. Don't forget to use RMS power, not peak!

[CHEVMARO6]

Thanks for responding.

No, the fuse was not blown.

Not excatly sure. It was the circular fuse holder with a 50 amp fuse.

Yes, about an inch of the power wire that ran to the fuse holder looked like someone put a lighter to is (right before the fuse holder).

It (fuse holder) was melted in the area where the wire appeared to be burnt. My AC condensor seperates my power wires from the actual engine.

I plan on having 4 guage wire ran (with no less than an 80 amp fuse) and also adding a farad cap, to help with dimming.

chevmaro6

[shinji]

If the only amp you have is the Punch 500 you should not need a 80 amp fuse. The reason your wire melted in the first place in because a 50 amp fuse was to big for the 8 gauge wire. I would run 4 gauge wire with a 50-60 amp fuse. Remember a fuse should be the weakest link in the chain, it supposed to pop if you draw to much current. You almost had an electrical fire or a 8 gauge hot going directly to ground in the best case.

Run good quality 4 gauge and rock out as much as you want.