MAXI fuse block

[CharlieJ]

Absolutely. Call Brian Godwin.

[CharlieJ]

BTW, the real work on the Standards is done by volunteers, about 300 of them on the various Project Technical Committees. Engineers, surveyors, USCG, bost builders, technicians, component manufacturers, and third party labs. ABYC works hard to keep a good mix on the PTC’s so no one group dominates. The boating public is encouraged to weigh in as I laid out in my previous post.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by sailingharry

I'd love to install a hypothetical 4 or 6 slot MAXI fuse holder. Clearly the MAXI is a fine fuse option, as Blue Seas sells a single fuse holder for fuses to 80A (wish it went to 100, as the fuse style goes that high). Think about it -- a single power line off the buss bar (yes, big, perhaps 1/0). A single small fuse block, neatly labeled. And 4 or 6 wires going to their destination. And fuses that cost 20% of an ANL fuse. What's not to like?

Well, the interrupting rating is only 1000 amps, and they depend on spring connectors rather than a more reliable bolted connection. Other than that, they're OK.

So after all this rambling -- has anyone come up with a neat solution for those mid range circuits? Larger than the little blade fuses, but not really the overkill of ANL size stuff?

You could look at MRBF fuses, which are more compact than ANL and have a 10,000 amp interrupting rating at 12vdc. They use bolted connections. Blue Sea makes a couple of nice blocks for them. They come in 30 to 300 amp ratings, in 10 amp increments to 100 amps, 25 amp increments above that except that there isn't a 275 amp.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by sailingharry

To me, making a 3" connector out of 1/0 wire with two lugs is dumb.

With larger wires, two bolts are used on the lug so it doesn't turn and work itself loose, due to the turning moment from the large wire. It's a valid practice, and one I prefer starting around 4/0 and larger.

[Frankly]

If you have the room for the larger bus bar just use ANL fuses for anything over 25 amps. Keep in mind that while the larger fuses/wire are selected principally on overcurrent requirements, the more typical operating mode is clearing ground faults/short ciruits (rare). If I am going to protect something that might experience an overload (anchor windlass), I use a breaker.

One 30 amp maxi on Cbreeze, wire feeding 12 V to the Yanmar engine panel.


Frankly