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Old 06-27-2016, 09:24 AM   #1
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Battery fuse needed?

Greetings: I bought a used 2015 24 RBS (and love it) Because we occasionally dry-camp I'm about to install two new 12v Optima deep-cycle batteries with a 4 position switch. Maybe i should have gone 6v but i already bought the batteries. Here's my question: currently my single battery has a 30 amp fuse spliced in line with wire nuts. Is it necessary to fuse the batteries since the distribution panel has a main fuse? The previous owner may have installed that fuse simply to be able to fully disconnect the battery. I'll be able to turn off either or both with the switch. I know to keep the breakaway switch "hot" full time. So....fuse or no fuse...that is the question. Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge.
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Old 06-27-2016, 09:30 AM   #2
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Always fuse! You are protecting your investment. Without a disconnect you can use the fuse as a disconnect (that's me).

The fuse will make sure you do not melt your wiring and start a fire if a short occurs before the power gets to the main fuse box.
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Old 06-27-2016, 10:18 AM   #3
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The purpose of the fuse just inches away from the Battery Terminals is to protect the cables etc between the battery and the accidental dead short to the Positive Battery Cable line coming from the Converter/Charger.

The batteries can produce a very big DC CURRENT when the cable gets shorted directly to ground along this line. This very high DC current can melt down the cables and may be a fire hazard.

Every trailer I have played with all have them. I guess it is a SAFETY DEVICE...

Some of the newer trailers have a AUOT RESET circuit breaker installed instead of the fuse...

When I added additional batteries and upgraded my converter/charger unit to a 60AMP DC model I had to to also replace the 30AMP DC In-line Fuse I had installed. My new fuse block went to an 130AMP SIZE but that was what I had left over from another project. I was wanting to put a 80AMP Fuse in place of the 30AMP.

If you only have the ONE 12VDC Battery installed the in-line 30A fuse will be ok. Most people will make the fuse rating the same as the DC output of the installed on-board converter/charger unit.

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