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fusible links


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skysky
New User

Aug 2, 2012, 3:39 PM

Post #1 of 16 (5216 views)
fusible links Sign In

I have a 99 Intrigue with a 3.8. My fusible links at the starter got fried due to an error in installing the starter which allowed the ground on the block to contact the power stud. This has been resolved but it seems nobody in my area including the GM dealership carries the fusible links for my car. I have soldered in two maxi fuse holders with 6ga wire on them but I need to know what the amperage rating of those links are. Any help would be much appreciated.


Hammer Time
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Aug 2, 2012, 3:48 PM

Post #2 of 16 (5208 views)
Re: fusible links Sign In

Fusible link wire is sold in short pieces or on a roll at most auto parts stores. You should have no trouble finding some.



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nickwarner
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Aug 2, 2012, 6:47 PM

Post #3 of 16 (5174 views)
Re: fusible links Sign In

HT, I know the OP and he lives in the same town as I do. When he called me I told him to post here as I don't have alldata now. He works at an Oreilleys and called the other parts stores in this town including the only GM dealer. He got nowhere. If they have it here nobody with enough intelligence knows what the hell it is. I personally verified this myself and was amazed. I figured same as you did. Can you find a listing for the amperage?


Hammer Time
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Aug 2, 2012, 7:01 PM

Post #4 of 16 (5169 views)
Re: fusible links Sign In

A 2 second Google search turned up all this.

http://www.amazon.com/...A15729691&page=1

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/1/3/fusible-link

http://www.madelectrical.com/...g/fusible-link.shtml

http://www.whiteproducts.com/fusible_link_wire.shtml

http://www.autopartsplace.com/Auto-Parts/body-electrical/Fusible-Link.html


http://www.blazenauto.com/...1-Fusible_Links.html



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
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Aug 2, 2012, 7:04 PM

Post #5 of 16 (5165 views)
Re: fusible links Sign In

Usually a fusible link is 4 gauges smaller than the wire it is inline with.


For example:
If the circuit the link is protecting uses 16 gauge wire, then the link would be 20 gauge.

It would be a lot easier to use fusible link sized accordingly than trying to figure out how many amps is on the circuit and using a fuse. GM used 3 types of links on that one: blue, black, and rust.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Aug 2, 2012, 7:16 PM)


nickwarner
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Aug 2, 2012, 7:14 PM

Post #6 of 16 (5156 views)
Re: fusible links Sign In

thanks guys. I will call him and tell him to check it out.


Discretesignals
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Aug 2, 2012, 7:17 PM

Post #7 of 16 (5150 views)
Re: fusible links Sign In

Make sure that when he installs the links, that they are the same length as the original.


Quote

Quote
Can a blown fusible link be replaced with a MAXI™ fuse?
While "MAXI" fuses have replaced most factory-installed fusible links in late model vehicles, they do not have the same performance characteristics as fusible links and should not be used to replace them unless specifically authorized by a vehicle factory service bulletin. Fusible links continue to be used in most starting circuit applications.

http://whiteproducts.com/fusible-specs.shtml





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Aug 2, 2012, 7:22 PM)


nickwarner
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Aug 2, 2012, 7:20 PM

Post #8 of 16 (5146 views)
Re: fusible links Sign In

I would imagine he will want me to install them since I have the soldering gear. Thanks for the tip. He should be on soon to see what has been posted. Thanks.


Hammer Time
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Aug 2, 2012, 7:22 PM

Post #9 of 16 (5146 views)
Re: fusible links Sign In


Quote
Make sure that when he installs the links, that they are the same length as the original.



Why?

Isn't 2 inches of 30amp capacity the same as 6 inches of 30amp capacity?



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
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Aug 2, 2012, 7:23 PM

Post #10 of 16 (5141 views)
Re: fusible links Sign In

Fusible links are not rated by amps.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


Hammer Time
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Aug 2, 2012, 7:25 PM

Post #11 of 16 (5135 views)
Re: fusible links Sign In

How does the length change the melting point?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
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Aug 2, 2012, 7:32 PM

Post #12 of 16 (5131 views)
Re: fusible links Sign In

You should ask an engineer that question. I am just relaying what I read and been trained when making fusible link repairs.

Here are some FAQ:

http://whiteproducts.com/fusible-faqs.shtml





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


Hammer Time
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Aug 2, 2012, 7:37 PM

Post #13 of 16 (5120 views)
Re: fusible links Sign In

Here is the only reference to length.


Quote
The length of a fusible link should not exceed 9".





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
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Aug 2, 2012, 7:39 PM

Post #14 of 16 (5115 views)
Re: fusible links Sign In

Here's another:


Quote
What size replacement fusible link should be used ?
The automotive service industry recommends using the same gauge and length as the blown fusible link after the cause of failure is corrected.


edit:

The length and gauge of a replacement fuselink determine its current capacity and the delay before it opens, so both parameters must be the same as original in order to have the same protection.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Aug 2, 2012, 7:51 PM)


Hammer Time
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Aug 2, 2012, 7:45 PM

Post #15 of 16 (5108 views)
Re: fusible links Sign In

I think i found the answer to the question.


Quote
Fusible link is nothing more than a different way of saying inline fuse. The wire size and length are figured based on the amount of energy it will require to melt the link. The smaller wire means higher resistance so the link will burn before the higher gauge main wire, the length adjusts the total thermal mass of the element and it's total resistance, so it can be tailored to slowblow/fastblow based on length. It's no different than any other fuse, simply it's location is different.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
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Aug 2, 2012, 7:52 PM

Post #16 of 16 (5104 views)
Re: fusible links Sign In

Learn something new everyday. Good info Smile





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Aug 2, 2012, 7:54 PM)






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