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| Fusible links are cheaper than fuses and fuse holders. And probably less likely to corrode and open the circuit than fuses in fuse holders. Even copper wire has a fuse rating, at least dating back to a 1928 article in General Electric Review, if not earlier. One problem is that a long wire will have a lot more voltage drop and that's often critical at 12 volts, than a good fuse and like Jon says, it has to get a lot hotter to open than a fuse made of low melting point alloys.
According to a chart in my Electrical Engineering Handbook, #26 copper has about the same characteristics as a 15 amp plug fuse. Blows in 0.3 second with 60 amps. By this chart a #25 would blow in that time with 90 amps, comparable to a 20 amp fuse. A 23 gauge would be about like a 32 amp fuse. A foot of #26 will drop 5/8 volt at 15 amps.
I test insulated wires by pulling on them. If they are springy the copper isn't connected. Insulation is springy, copper isn't.
Gerald J. | |
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Would someone explain a fusable link please...
