fusible link questions

[Don.F.Broadus at ucm.com]

GM shop manuals have a chart for fuse link applications and repair of blown
links. The manual indicates that the fuse link should be 4 wire sizes
smaller than the wire being protected. The only real problem with fuse links
is when the crimps become corroded and
heat up due to high resistance.   

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	AL8001 at aol.com [SMTP:AL8001 at aol.com]
> Sent:	Wednesday, February 03, 1999 10:32 AM
> To:	diy_efi at efi332.eng.ohio-state.edu
> Subject:	Re: fusible link questions
> 
> >James Weiler wrote:
> >> 
> >> gents,
> >> 
> >> Can somebody tell me why fusible links are all the rage now rather
> >> than a fuse?  Is there some niffty piece of info on these things that
> I'm
> >> missing?
> >
> >
> 
> Fusible links really aren't that new, the 73 Dodge Dart used a few.  The
> main
> advantges I see are:
> 
> 1 Low cost to use.
> 
> 2 No fuse block required, they can be installed close to the source of
> power.
> ( this reduces the length of unprotected wireing)
> 
> 3 Circuits can be split up into smaller zones so a failure dosn't takeout
> vital systems.
> 
> 4 No/ little chance of the fuse link wearing out. Yes wearing out.  As
> someone
> has also posted, regular fuses that are used close to their rated capacity
> will pop for no apparent reason.  This is from thermal cycleing.
> 
> 5 I "think" fusible links have a lower resistance that a glass ( SFE 20)
> or a
> ATC/ ATO plastic fuse.
> 
> It's posible to read a failed fuse, a silver spot usually means a dead
> short (
> pinched wire) . A melted link is usually a overload ( fan motor with bad
> bearings) or possibily a worn out fuse.
> 
> Other trivia.  Light bulbs do wear out before burning out.  Tunsgsten from
> the
> hot filament coats the inside of the glass reducing the transmitted light
> and
> the filament starts to develop thin spots.  If the glass looks
> black/silver or
> the filament looks grainy black/ silver the bulb should be replaced.  
> 
> Mufflers do have bearings.
> 
> It's possible to walk up hill to school both ways.
> 
> 
> Harold