Thruster Fuse Replacement Question

[GaylesFaerie]

Both of the thruster fuses on my 2012 R27 are looking pretty tired and I want to be prepared in case they blow or break assuming they are 10 years old. They are both rated at 150A but they don't look like the other large ANL fuses for the engine (100A), genset (150A), or inverter (175A) - see pictures below.

Thrusters:
https://share.icloud.com/photos/028v6yM ... m5IcCfLcSg
https://share.icloud.com/photos/05eDvrW ... ruFgpe-4DQ

Inverter:
https://share.icloud.com/photos/088Jm3F ... 1ReAVkppRw

The thruster fuses appear to be encased in ceramic while the others use what looks like computer board. The ceramic on the bow thruster is actually loose and can be wiggled a bit although the fuse itself appears intact and I did not have any issues using the thruster last season.

Can the thruster fuses be replaced with ANL fuses similar in construction to the engine and inverter fuses provided they are appropriately rated?

Thanks, Gary

 

[Ralf H]

Hi Gary,

You can use any ANL type fuse, as long as it is rated the same as what you have installed and fits properly. Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Ralf

 

[Newf]

Hi Gary,, I have a R21 and blew the thruster fuse a while ago. It was the ceramic type you described. I could not find the exact replacement so I bought one with the "computer board" material you mentioned and was told that they were all the same and would work. I found out that it did not fit the holder as the "computer board" was a bit too wide. I just cut the board material with a hacksaw and have been using it for two years now with no issues. I tried to attach a photo showing the size difference but was unable to.

 

[knotflying]

Defender: https://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1&id=2281609

 

[GaylesFaerie]

Thanks Knot!

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

Hi Gary,, I have a R21 and blew the thruster fuse a while ago. It was the ceramic type you described. I could not find the exact replacement so I bought one with the "computer board" material you mentioned and was told that they were all the same and would work. I found out that it did not fit the holder as the "computer board" was a bit too wide. I just cut the board material with a hacksaw and have been using it for two years now with no issues. I tried to attach a photo showing the size difference but was unable to.

I’d be careful modifying a fuse. Remember, you don’t really know if a fuse works properly until it blows when you need it to.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Newf]

I get your point about a modification that could affect the fuse and how it works/or not when you need it most. The metal and fuse portion that would "blow or melt" was unaffected by shaving the ends of the material that prevented it from seating in the holder. I had discussed it with an electrical engineering friend before using it and was told that it would have no affect on the function of the fuse.

I guess my point in the post was to let the OP know that all of these so called replaceable fuses are not identical in size. What was available to me at the time I needed one was certainly not. The one in the link supplied by knotflying would be the proper way to go for sure.

Thanks again for pointing it out.

 

[GaylesFaerie]

Thanks Ralf and all. New fuses on order. Going with the sandwich board. I didn't like the fact that the ceramic case on one fuse broke loose even tho the fuse was still operational. Seems like that would allow it to vibrate while the engine is running and possibly damage the fuse link. I don't see how anything like that can happen with the sandwich board which seems safer. Gary