Unexpected fuse in slot 3

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Alfredo
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Unexpected fuse in slot 3

Post by Alfredo »

I have a 30A fuse in slot 3 of my fuse box, which according to all sources I can find show it as a 15A fuse?

My 12v cigarette lighter has been changed to a usb charging port with an inline 25A fuse.

Any views on why it is 30A? Should I change it back to 15A?

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Mocki
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Re: Unexpected fuse in slot 3

Post by Mocki »

What size id the wire ? I suspect a PO has plugged something in that blown a fuse so did the idiot thing and put a bigger fuse in ?
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Alfredo
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Re: Unexpected fuse in slot 3

Post by Alfredo »

How do I measure the wire size?
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Re: Unexpected fuse in slot 3

Post by ZsZ »

Put back a 15 Amp fuse. If it keeps blowing investigate further.

Maybe it was an "emergency" and just 30A fuse was handy but it is also possible that the wiring was changed beside the panel. Or the PO just left the wires as is which is bad.

If the charger fuse is 25A, then it is better to pull a new 2 mm2 wire directly from the battery.

https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/news/cable-sizes.html
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Alfredo
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Re: Unexpected fuse in slot 3

Post by Alfredo »

OK I have put a 15A fuse in. 
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Re: Unexpected fuse in slot 3

Post by cobblers »

25A is an insane fuse choice for a USB charger. It's ten times an appropriate value! Whoever fitted this has absolutely no idea what they are doing. Replace the inline fuse with a 2A or 3A fuse.

On to your 30A fuse in the main fuse box - the VW CE1 fuse box is marginal at best and the fuses are all chosen to appropriately to protect the circuits strung off it. Under no circumstances is it a good idea to increase the amperage of any of these fuses.

You've done the right thing fitting a 15A fuse - 15A is plenty of power for everything you have on that circuit.

Alfredo
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Re: Unexpected fuse in slot 3

Post by Alfredo »

Thanks, this is the USB power socket:

https://www.mudstuff.co.uk/products/usb ... 2ca6&_ss=r


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Re: Unexpected fuse in slot 3

Post by cobblers »

With three USB ports in one device, a 5A/7.5A fuse would be reasonable. The specs of this charger claim it can do 45+45+18=108w max which would need a 10A fuse, but these chargers are generally well over-rated, and particularly when running off a 12V supply they can only achieve a max of 27W on each USB C PD output.

A scenario where that charger is continuously delivering maximum stated power on all three outputs at the same time is less likely than the scenario where it randomly fails internally and you have to rely on a fuse to stop it going on fire, so I would err on the side of caution and go with 5A. I have fitted dozens of very similar chargers and always use a 5A fuse.

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