Fuse Size needed ?

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Fuse Size needed ?

Postby expresso » 31 Aug 2018, 23:06

i have a few 12V 15ah lithium packs i done for my PTA - once the lead is gone on that unit - i will use the packs i made - PTA - Power Toilet Aid - i have not added any fuse inline on these packs - since i will be adding them to my ADD ON for my chairs - i wonder - do i need to add a fuse for this little pack also ?

if so - what size do i need to use ? as far as i can see - theres no fuse there now - with the lead and charger connected to it - it stays charged and topped all the time -

do i need to add a fuse if theres none there now ? if so what size should i use

here is a picture of the motor if that offers any help in figuring out the fuse size needed if at all.

thanks
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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby Burgerman » 31 Aug 2018, 23:33

The fuse is there only to protect the cables. So if anything goes wrong they dont melt, glow, cause a fire.

So to find the right sized fuse you need to know a couple of things.

1. how many amps does the device take as it maximum in use?
2. how many amps can the cables take before smoke...

So then you want a fuse that is as close to the battery as possible, that will be able to provide enough amps for the job it has to power. But not too big, so that it blows before the cables...

So. What size cables? Andhow much power does the motor take?
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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby expresso » 01 Sep 2018, 00:58

good questions - was hoping you could tell me from the picture of the motor -

i made one cable with 12 AWG wire which seems thicker than the orginal wires that were there - the other one i used the original wire and cut off the ends to add xt90 - on the pack i believe its either 10 or 12 AWG -

the motor i dont know how many amps it takes - i would have to call them and ask - if they even know -

as it sits now - in its original form - theres a battery lead - and charger connected to the battery at all times and then connected to the motor - unless theres a fuse inside the small charger - i dont see any fuses anywhere - which is way i never though about it actually - all i did was make a headway pack 15ah 12V and added the connector end to snap into the motor cable -

of course i would have to charge with the PL 8 to balance etc, - and would check it weekly to get an idea as to when i need to charge it - since have no idea how long it would last being used daily - cant be alot of power - between me and cleaning etc, - a few times up and down a day - at most -
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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby Burgerman » 01 Sep 2018, 01:18

What size are the cables though. Thats the easy way. If they are 3mmsq use a 10A fuse if it doesent blow fit a 15A and you know thats safe. You are really just sizing the fuse to fail before the cables melt.

Also you are now NYLE so should have a clamp Ammeter! Like https://www.amazon.co.uk/UNI-T-UT210E-C ... B00O1Q2HOQ
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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby flagman1776 » 01 Sep 2018, 01:19

When I first saw this post title... I thought I'd mistakenly logged into the forum where cannon fans discuss cannons, black power & fuses... :lol:
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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby expresso » 01 Sep 2018, 01:31

Burgerman wrote:What size are the cables though. Thats the easy way. If they are 3mmsq use a 10A fuse if it doesent blow fit a 15A and you know thats safe. You are really just sizing the fuse to fail before the cables melt.

Also you are now NYLE so should have a clamp Ammeter! Like https://www.amazon.co.uk/UNI-T-UT210E-C ... B00O1Q2HOQ



i have to double check since i am not using them on the unit just yet - waiting for the Lead to give up and then swap over to my packs - i am pretty sure its 12AWG which is the same on the PL 8 for charging lead - i have 10A fuses - would be good if that size would work

i emailed the motor company to be sure - and i think i will buy one of those units - but how to use it - thats another story then - :)

the cable going to the motor itself is a different size from the ones i put on my battery end - i would say the motor end is 14AWG but its a strong firmer cable - which is a bit thinner than the 12 awg i used
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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby expresso » 01 Sep 2018, 01:39

https://smile.amazon.com/Meterk-Multime ... r+by+Uni-T

is this any good - its cheaper in costs - dont know how many times i may even use this - after you teach me how :D
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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby Burgerman » 01 Sep 2018, 01:59

No it doesent do DC current...

The one I linked is by far the best for its price. And you can find them much cheaper if you look about.
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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby expresso » 01 Sep 2018, 02:03

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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby Burgerman » 01 Sep 2018, 02:07

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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby expresso » 01 Sep 2018, 02:15

https://www.ebay.com/itm/UNI-T-UT210E-D ... 1591434911

should i try this one ? very cheap -
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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby Burgerman » 01 Sep 2018, 10:50

You may be lucky. Or it may be too good to be true! And his 10 feedbacks may all be him...

Its such a cheap price I am wary of a scam, but its alo not much to lose. So... :shifty:

All his feedback is for a 1 dollar lantern. And he started selling 2 weeks ago.
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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby shirley_hkg » 01 Sep 2018, 11:17

I paid US$37.00 for mine years ago , even here in China . banghead
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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby Burgerman » 01 Sep 2018, 11:46

Things keep moving on...
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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby LROBBINS » 01 Sep 2018, 12:17

I have that same UNI clamp meter and have found it easy to use and reasonably accurate, though I don't use it very often. I have no recollection of what I paid for it 4 years or so ago.
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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby shirley_hkg » 01 Sep 2018, 13:01

Oh, I paid £15 , as it said .

It is now selling @US$37 or more on taobao .
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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby hank » 01 Sep 2018, 13:33

Just ordered one Ebay 30quid delivered.
Will see what there like. :eh:
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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby expresso » 01 Sep 2018, 16:24

i just ordered the cheap one on ebay for $11 - lets see what i get - may not even use it much if at all - but once i get it - you need to tell me how to use it - :lol:

i havnt a clue with the settings etc, or what i am even looking for -
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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby Burgerman » 01 Sep 2018, 16:35

Yo mean if you get it! :cussing
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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby steves1977uk » 01 Sep 2018, 16:36

Could be easy to figure out, or hard... Like women! :lol: czy

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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby shirley_hkg » 03 Sep 2018, 09:45

It's not that hard .... , but devil always in the details .

He will probably get a ZB-UT210E , instead of a UNI-T
:lol:
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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby Burgerman » 03 Sep 2018, 09:51

Whats that? A chinese clone? Or something worse?
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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby expresso » 03 Sep 2018, 16:20

You may be right - or Not - or does it really matter for $10 dollars -

also the links that BM posted as reliable sellers - they all say the same specs - show the correct models on top and on the bottom show the same items you just posted - so i just paid alot less for the same item someone may pay more for -

and if its really that bad - ebay protection since it does say on top the item model which is what buyers see first - Pizza costs more
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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby LROBBINS » 03 Sep 2018, 16:45

My UNI-T (raised red lettering on the front) is Model UT-210E (on the sticker). I think expresso will get the same and be reasonably happy with it.
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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby Burgerman » 03 Sep 2018, 18:28

If anything AT ALL turns up for 10 dollars all the way from china then I think he did well! :clap
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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby ex-Gooserider » 04 Sep 2018, 00:55

Important note - fuses must be sized to match the SMALLEST size wire in the circuit you are trying to protect... This is particularly important in systems where there is a large difference between the thinnest and thickest wires, as the thinnest wires will develop almost all the heat if there is a short. (they have a higher resistance than the thick wires, so they will drop more voltage across their length...)

The motor label doesn't have enough information on it to be useful - it says 12V, but doesn't give Amp or Watt values, and it isn't possible to solve an Ohm's Law problem with only one known variable... You also didn't say what the motor was used on in a useful way, or give a big enough picture to show what it's driving or estimate the size... However from the "Motion" brand label, I'm guessing that it's an actuator motor, and probably about the size of a soup can... If so, the wires going to it are probably AWG 16 or 18, and it will draw about 10-20A at stall, less when running, If so, a 10 or 15A fuse is about the right size....

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Re: Fuse Size needed ?

Postby expresso » 04 Sep 2018, 01:12

http://www.stand-aid.com/power-toilet-aid.html

this is the item - PTA - goes up and down thats it - and the wiring on the motor to the battery is thinner i believe than 12AWG that i have on my pack -

16 AWG i would say is about right from looking at it - i will double check if i see any numbers on it - i have 10A fuses here blade kind - i dont want to underfuse it thats for sure - need it work all the time -

strange that it dosnt have a fuse there now - never did - so i never even though about it before - i used to just swap out for new battery when i needed - last thing i want is for the fuse to blow when in use - wont be happy :o
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