Fuse wires ? Really ?

While on a familiarization trip thru my downloaded owner/operator manual for the antique Yanmar YM1500D tractor I just bought (mfd

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At least no previous owners have butchered the wiring ! I ordered a pair of cheap analog VOM's last night , all my cheap digital units have died . Sure wish we still had a Radio Shack ! The fuse connections need cleaning up but that's just one more little thing . I'm hoping that the cooling system was drained - they recommend straight water because it's a thermal siphon , no pump - and isn't full of holes . A surprising amount of parts are still available but I don't really want to buy a 250 dollar radiator !

I don't have an answer to your query. It just reminded my when I worked for Arizona Telephone Company (since bought out by TDS Telecom) back in the 80s a supervisor of mine pointed out some antique equipment still in service that used 1 amp fuse wire. He gave me a spool of the stuff out of his personal stash. I doubt I still have it, but I don't ever remember throwing it away.

That was a weird friendship. Years later he worked for me, and I fired him for an egregious mistake with a panic alarm for a customer. The customer was robbed and the panic alarm didn't work. I had specifically asked him if he had tested it. It turns out he tested the button and wires with a meter and then hooked it up to the panic input on the control incorrectly. He never actually tested it. The correct way to test most alarm devices is to active them with the system fully functional and make sure dispatch receives the signals... anyway, oddly enough we were still friends until he died living in an adult care home up in Oregon a few years later.

Back on topic if I run across that spool of fuse wire I'll let you know, and you can tell me if you want it. I never used it for anything.

On Wed May 21 21:08:57 2025 Snag wrote:

The GM factory service manual for my 86 Regal says that fusible links are four wire gauges smaller than the wire they are to protect, and MUST be shorter than 9". So if you have a circuit wired with 12 ga wire you would use a piece of 16 ga wire shorter than 9" as a fusible link to protect that circuit. Here's their discussion:

"Fusible Links I n addition t o circuit breakers and fuses, some circuits use fusible links t o protect the wiring. Like fuses, fusible links are "one time " protection devices that will melt and create an open circuit (see Figure 3). Not all fusible link open circuits can be detected by observation. Always inspect that there is Battery voltage past the fusible link to verify continuity. Fusible links are used instead of a fuse in wiring circuits t h a t are not normally fused, such as the ignition circuit. Each fus'ibke link is four wire - gauge sizes smaller than the cable it is designed t o protect. Links are marked on the insulation with wire - gauge size because the heavy insulation makes the link appear t o be a heavier gauge than i t actually is. The same wire size fusible link must be used when replac - ing a blown fusible link. Fusible links are available with two types of insulation: Hypalon'"' and SiliconelGXL (SILI GXL). Service fusible links made with SILl GXL may be used to replace either Hypalon " or SILlGXL fusible links. Service fusible links made with Hypalon " ' may only be used t o replace Hypalon'"' fusible links. To determine the fusible link type: nick the insulation of the blown fusible link with a knife. SILlCXL will have a white inner core under the outer color. Hypalon " ' insulation is one color. Service fusi - ble links are available in many lengths. Choose the shortest length that is suitable. If the fusi - ble link is to be cut from a spool, N E V E R make a fusible link longer than 228 mm (9 in). CAUTION: Fusible links cut longer than

Hope that helps. Carl

Speaking of oddities. A fairly common line of fire alarm panels have (had?) a fusible trace on the back of the circuit board. The most common cause of that trace blowing was somebody trying to save some money and change out the backup batteries themselves only to momentarily hook them up backwards. Its the only line of control panel I know of that uses the trace. If I was a douche bag I could have charged them for a new control panel and all the associated labor, but usually I just left the control on my back work bench for 20 minutes while I went in the office to think about. When I would get back to it some how it would exchanged out by the alarm panel fairy to a panel with a pigtail fuse holder soldered on in where the fusible trace used to be. Nobody in my shop would modify a fire alarm panel, so it can only be explained by magic fairies. Kinda like the tooth fairy, but for an exponential increase in value.

Most/all other panels use a serviceable fuse or just shut down until the fault is corrected.

I do recall a burglar alarm panel that had a soldered on main power glass fuse, but I don't recall it ever blowing out.

I think that this may be what you have:

.

Joe

Thanks Bob , I think I'll be alright for now . I ordered a package of

Yes and no ... these are pieces about an inch and a half long , bare wire . I have a package of "fusible links" rated for 15 amps on the way . Meanwhile the tractor project is on hold while awaiting parts - and because a neighbor gave me almost a cord of firewood that needs to be split and stacked . It ain't gonna split itself !

I do recall a burglar alarm panel that had a soldered on main power glass fuse, but I don't recall it ever blowing out.

--------------------------------- I have an inverter fused for 50A with two 25A fuses in parallel.

Not likely. They old Yanmars and sone eastern block stuff used single strand fuse wires. You can still buy 2, 5, 10, and 15 amp fuse wire by the roll from Supertek.

It used to be lead tin alloy but today a lot of it is plated copper. It should be low resistance with a low melting point

There is a you tube at

Also see

They're used in domestic applications as well here in the UK in old installations, I have replaceable wire fuses in the workshop/garage and have never upgraded as they work and I don't think I've ever had to rewire one in over 30 years, having a fuse in the appliance plug helps but it's rare I blow one of those. The main house board is modern MCBs. The distribution board in the workshop has bladed fuse holders so I could change them for cartridge fuse holders or MCBs if I wanted to. IIRC I have a small cardboard card fuse wire selection somewhere like