Re: [DML] Replace fuse block with circuit breakers?

["Dave Swingle" <swingle@xxxx>]

Actually you can get circuit breakers that will act as fast or faster 
than fuses. The main reason that they are not used in car 
applications like this is that they cost quite a bit more money than 
a 50-cent fuse. Manufacturers think like this - "we can build a fuse 
block for $6 or use breakers for $150; what's the extra cost on a 
million cars? Will the customer notice?". But now that it's your car, 
it may be feasible. Just make sure you get the right kind, generic 
cheap automotive breakers ARE slower than fuses and could cause 
problems. 

Dave S

--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "jdub" <doki_pen@xxxx> wrote:
> While this sounds good on paper I regret to inform you that a fuse 
is the
> only fast response in case of a circuit overload. Circuit breakers 
take too
> long to throw because the bi-metal inside of them has to heat up to 
break
> the connection. This can become a dangerous situation.
> 
> Jon
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: supermattthehero [mailto:supermatty@xxxx]
> Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2004 2:21 PM
> To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [DML] Replace fuse block with circuit breakers?
> 
> 
> I replaced a fuse today in my car and realized then that my fuse
> block holds my fuses very loosely. I can nearly pull them out with
> a single finger. After looking around for replacement fuse blocks,
> I thought, why not replace them with circuit breakers of the same
> size? I was planning on getting some panel-mount, manual-reset