Club 80-90 Forums

I'm planning to replace the existing ceramic fuse (above) set up in mine for the blade type, primarily because everyone seems to charge a fortune for the fuses and with blade fuses now the world standard, you can even buy a bucketload in £ shops these days. Ceramic fuse breaks are also difficult to spot compared to blade fuses. Has anyone done it, if not I'll document how I do mine if its any use to anyone.

I'm inclined to think this is a neglected part of early wedge electrics and whilst I buy the purists angle, it doesn't make a lot of sense keeping the ceramic set up.

Watching with interest!!
Where will you get the fuse holder/box thingy from?

Well I've got a couple of ideas and new fusebox will need piggyback spade terminals if its to follow same configuration but I'll have a nose over the weekend and try to discern the simplest way to do it. In an ideal world I'd rather have the fusebox sitting just below the now redundant ashtray (no scrabbling needed) but thats a wiring nightmare.

The plan is to adapt the existing fusebox with only minor cutting to get the new one in. No shortage of suitable fuseboxes available - challenge is to find a good quality one (preferably not made from easy-melt plastic and must be rear-entry for connections). I will also put the wipers on a seperate fuse to the blower as that was a major weakness in the early ceramic box.

Ah - was wondering if you were planning to fit the blade fuse version of the T25 fuse board from a later van?

No, I think it'll create problems with wire lengths trying to convert completely to a later type. The dash is quite different in that respect. Was thinking more along the lines of keeping the fuse area as is but cutting out the original ceramic array to make way for a new blade one but keep the order the same. Less messing in the end.

Seems like a lot of hassle when they're only 15p each

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I think thats my point, you can't easily pick them up in local shops (I'm a big advocate of using local business). You can pick up replacements on line but would prefer to have fuses I can get anywhere and I've never been entirely happy with ceramic fuses even in my Beetle days. Anyway I've ordered the replacement blade holder and an assortment of piggy-back spade connectors so will post how I get on.

My existing fusebox has slight damage due to heat - hence a move to replace it. You can

There are ceramic-to-blade converters but they seemed a bit heath-robinson to me.

CovKid wrote:connections). I will also put the wipers on a seperate fuse to the blower as that was a major weakness in the early ceramic box.

They where originally, the heater blower was fuse 13 in the auxiliary fuse box until 1983, they should have left it where it was.

A strange decision to be sure BigHerb. I once had a very scary moment on the M6 in driving rain and split the two after that. I don't ever want to experience that again.....

It escapes me why they'd put two ancileries that can pull so many amps towards the end of their life on one flippin fuse.

I'm interested to see how this goes, but for £3.29 I've got enough spare fuses in the van to last me a few years.

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Ceramic fuse breaks are also difficult to spot compared to blade fuses.

I always use a circuit tester screwdriver for checking fuses so checking ceramic fuses isn't any harder.

The only problem I've had with my fuses was one fell out completely and I didn't realise it was missing. Doh!

Thats the other side of it - they're not that secure. I've also seen the contacts fur up. I just hate the pesky things. Be glad to see the back of mine.

CovKid ... Watch out for the chepy blade fuses. I purchased some a few weeks ago on eBay. OK they do the job, but when you try to remove them to check anything the plastic comes away from the metal (fuse) section leaving it in fuse holder. Bit of an bugger.

Aye, valid point that, particularly on fuses that could get warm Be nice to have a fusebox that is easier to maintain though. My ideal location for fuses would have been on the dash where the ashtray once was. I just think its barmy where it is but I won't be moving all that spaghetti. Ok, washer bottle, different, but I can live with it. Brake fluid reservoir, weird but dooable. But its a right pain getting to the fuses when you have to wear reading glasses.

I replaced the original aluminium ceramic fuses with copper ones bought on line so they don't chemically react with the copper connections and with a bunch of spares for a few quid. So no need to change the fuse box. If you can't buy locally buy on line!