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James · Oct 25th, 2006, 06:24 PM

Hi,
I recently fitted a set of four Wipac spotlights. They came with a 20 amp fuse which melted after a few days use. I was thinking maybe the 20 amp fuse is for 2 spotlights not four? Does anyone have any suggestions for a better size fuse? Or is there another reason why the fuse melted?
Thanks,
Crammy

James · Oct 25th, 2006, 06:54 PM

Any ideas?

CoolCarStuff · Oct 25th, 2006, 06:59 PM

Simple stuff....

If all your lamps are wired in parallel (ie one fuse), divide the total wattage of your bulbs (typically 55w unless you have upgraded them) by 12 and you have the number of amps.

Choose the nearest (bigger) fuse size to your answer...

DJ

PS - I take it you missed first year high school physics?

James · Oct 25th, 2006, 07:08 PM

lol i got A* GCSE in physics i'll have you know! So your formula thing says just over 18 amps so would it perhaps be a good idea to go down to a 15? I dont understand what the amp size means, is it the higher it is the less current it lets through or the more?
p.s thanks for the help

CoolCarStuff · Oct 25th, 2006, 07:59 PM

...glad you took the joke as it was intended...there are far too many serious people in the world.. he he...

If the sums come up with 18 amps, then I would go for 20amp fuse. The higher the number is more current... hence the next bigest size. Good old physics taught us that power (watts) = volts * amps.....

The fuse in any installation is there to protect the cable and not as people think, the device hanging off the end of it! If the device (in this case the lamp...) shorts for any reason, the fuse is there to stop the cable getting so hot that the insulation melts off it and starts a fire...

So the point of that samble is that you need to use a cable that will carry in excess of the required current... for from memory (need to check) I would look at a cable that is circa 2.5mm square... you get the point....

Place the fuse as near too the source of the power (ie battery or terminal/fuse box) as possible... and not at the load (lamp) end...

Hope that makes sence and is of use!

DJ

CC07ERS · Oct 28th, 2006, 05:36 AM

this is far to brainy for me so what size do you boffins recomend

James · Oct 29th, 2006, 08:40 AM

it should be 20 amps, i think it was just my dodgy wiring ( i used a lot of sellotape)

Oct 25th, 2006, 06:24 PM	#1
James MINI2 Master Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Essex Local Time: 10:25 AM Posts: 990 Offline	what size fuse for Wipac quad spots??? Hi, I recently fitted a set of four Wipac spotlights. They came with a 20 amp fuse which melted after a few days use. I was thinking maybe the 20 amp fuse is for 2 spotlights not four? Does anyone have any suggestions for a better size fuse? Or is there another reason why the fuse melted? Thanks, Crammy

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Oct 25th, 2006, 06:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
James MINI2 Master Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Essex Local Time: 10:25 AM Posts: 990 Offline	Any ideas?

Oct 25th, 2006, 06:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
CoolCarStuff Flying Scotsman My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sunny Scotland Local Time: 09:25 AM Posts: 259 Offline	Simple stuff.... If all your lamps are wired in parallel (ie one fuse), divide the total wattage of your bulbs (typically 55w unless you have upgraded them) by 12 and you have the number of amps. Choose the nearest (bigger) fuse size to your answer... DJ PS - I take it you missed first year high school physics?

Oct 25th, 2006, 07:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
James MINI2 Master Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Essex Local Time: 10:25 AM Posts: 990 Offline	lol i got A* GCSE in physics i'll have you know! So your formula thing says just over 18 amps so would it perhaps be a good idea to go down to a 15? I dont understand what the amp size means, is it the higher it is the less current it lets through or the more? p.s thanks for the help

Oct 25th, 2006, 07:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
CoolCarStuff Flying Scotsman My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sunny Scotland Local Time: 09:25 AM Posts: 259 Offline	...glad you took the joke as it was intended...there are far too many serious people in the world.. he he... If the sums come up with 18 amps, then I would go for 20amp fuse. The higher the number is more current... hence the next bigest size. Good old physics taught us that power (watts) = volts * amps..... The fuse in any installation is there to protect the cable and not as people think, the device hanging off the end of it! If the device (in this case the lamp...) shorts for any reason, the fuse is there to stop the cable getting so hot that the insulation melts off it and starts a fire... So the point of that samble is that you need to use a cable that will carry in excess of the required current... for from memory (need to check) I would look at a cable that is circa 2.5mm square... you get the point.... Place the fuse as near too the source of the power (ie battery or terminal/fuse box) as possible... and not at the load (lamp) end... Hope that makes sence and is of use! DJ

Oct 28th, 2006, 05:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
CC07ERS TYPE R GT VTEC POWERED My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Type R GT Local Time: 10:25 AM Posts: 2,743 Offline	this is far to brainy for me so what size do you boffins recomend

Oct 29th, 2006, 08:40 AM	#7 (permalink)
James MINI2 Master Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Essex Local Time: 10:25 AM Posts: 990 Offline	it should be 20 amps, i think it was just my dodgy wiring ( i used a lot of sellotape)

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