Big FUSE = Big TROUBLE?

BMWonderz · 07-06-2012, 03:12 AM

Hey guys,

So I hooked up a 10 in JLw7 and it bumps like no other.

However, my friend took a look at the wiring today and noticed something: my fuse was rated 200amps. My Sony Xplode 1200W Mono D amp only requires 80-90amp fuse. He said that if the fuse is too big, it won't burn to protect the other components in my car.

However, when I bought the wiring kit, a rep. told me the bigger the fuse, the better! I'm currently using a 0 gauge (ginormous) wires. (I don't suggest 0 gauge unless you have to. It was a pain in the butt to install an amp with 0 gauge.) So now I'm confused. Should I replace the fuse with a 100amp or just keep the 200amp fuse?

Thanks for your input!

JaSSon · 07-06-2012, 07:56 AM

Use whatever size fuse Sony recommends for the amp.

rcurley55 · 07-06-2012, 12:05 PM

I'm 99.9% sure that your amplifier is fused itself. Those fuses are intended to protect the amplifier. The fuse between your battery and the amplifier is intended to protect against a direct short of your power wire. It is safe to select that fuse according to the current carrying capacity of the wire. A short 0/1 ga wire will sustain 200A without issue and without burning up the jacket.

In summary, don't waste your money and leave the 200A in there. If the amplifier has an issue, its fuses will go first and you will be fine. Oh, and don't listen to your friend.

bmw325i · 07-06-2012, 02:01 PM

That's really overboard (assuming it's true 0 gauge) You would have been fine with 8 gauge and a 50 amp fuse with that amp.

BMWonderz · 07-07-2012, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcurley55

I'm 99.9% sure that your amplifier is fused itself. Those fuses are intended to protect the amplifier. The fuse between your battery and the amplifier is intended to protect against a direct short of your power wire. It is safe to select that fuse according to the current carrying capacity of the wire. A short 0/1 ga wire will sustain 200A without issue and without burning up the jacket.

In summary, don't waste your money and leave the 200A in there. If the amplifier has an issue, its fuses will go first and you will be fine. Oh, and don't listen to your friend.

Thanks! Yeah, there are fuses attached to the amp. 3 x 25A fuses. I bought a kit and the fuse came DOA so I had to purchase one at Fry's Electronics (and they only had 200A fuse...)

BMWonderz · 07-07-2012, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmw325i

That's really overboard (assuming it's true 0 gauge) You would have been fine with 8 gauge and a 50 amp fuse with that amp.

I got the whole 0 gauge kit for ~$30.00 or something. It is really good. I just had to get a separate fuse because the kit was thrown over my fence by the shipping company (DHL); hence, the kit's fuse came dead on arrival.

bmw325i · 07-07-2012, 11:55 AM

In that case it's not true 0 gauge I would go with a 100 amp fuse.

BMWonderz · 07-07-2012, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmw325i

In that case it's not true 0 gauge I would go with a 100 amp fuse.

it is true, believe me. I had to use a wire reducer to get it to fit in my amp terminal. and even then, it was realty difficult.

bmw325i · 07-07-2012, 01:46 PM

I believe you that the wire didn't fit in the amp since even 4 gauge is overkill for that amp, but a true 0 gauge kit costs around $100 or more. I spent about $110 on my Rockford Fosgate kit.

07-06-2012, 03:12 AM	#1
BMWonderz Private 10 Rep 62 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 328i Join Date: May 2011 Location: El Monte, CA iTrader: (2)	Big FUSE = Big TROUBLE? Hey guys, So I hooked up a 10 in JLw7 and it bumps like no other. However, my friend took a look at the wiring today and noticed something: my fuse was rated 200amps. My Sony Xplode 1200W Mono D amp only requires 80-90amp fuse. He said that if the fuse is too big, it won't burn to protect the other components in my car. However, when I bought the wiring kit, a rep. told me the bigger the fuse, the better! I'm currently using a 0 gauge (ginormous) wires. (I don't suggest 0 gauge unless you have to. It was a pain in the butt to install an amp with 0 gauge.) So now I'm confused. Should I replace the fuse with a 100amp or just keep the 200amp fuse? Thanks for your input!
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07-06-2012, 07:56 AM	#2
JaSSon Down with the N54. 17 Rep 409 Posts Drives: I has a E92! Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Columbus, OH iTrader: (0)	Use whatever size fuse Sony recommends for the amp.
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07-06-2012, 12:05 PM	#3
rcurley55 Private 4 Rep 99 Posts Drives: 2010 535i Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SF, CA iTrader: (0)	I'm 99.9% sure that your amplifier is fused itself. Those fuses are intended to protect the amplifier. The fuse between your battery and the amplifier is intended to protect against a direct short of your power wire. It is safe to select that fuse according to the current carrying capacity of the wire. A short 0/1 ga wire will sustain 200A without issue and without burning up the jacket. In summary, don't waste your money and leave the 200A in there. If the amplifier has an issue, its fuses will go first and you will be fine. Oh, and don't listen to your friend.
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07-06-2012, 02:01 PM	#4
bmw325i Major General 237 Rep 5,118 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: United States iTrader: (8)	That's really overboard (assuming it's true 0 gauge) You would have been fine with 8 gauge and a 50 amp fuse with that amp.
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07-07-2012, 11:55 AM	#7
bmw325i Major General 237 Rep 5,118 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: United States iTrader: (8)	In that case it's not true 0 gauge I would go with a 100 amp fuse.
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07-07-2012, 01:46 PM	#9
bmw325i Major General 237 Rep 5,118 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: United States iTrader: (8)	I believe you that the wire didn't fit in the amp since even 4 gauge is overkill for that amp, but a true 0 gauge kit costs around $100 or more. I spent about $110 on my Rockford Fosgate kit.
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