fuse in the battery compartment?
One last issue with my solar install: The controller manual says the fuse needs to be no more than six inches from the battery terminal. That would locate it inside the battery box under the steps...
Forum Discussion
Fuses and circuit breakers generally should be as close to the source of power as practical when the source is capable of supplying a greater current than the circuit can safely carry. For a master fuse, that would mean as close to the battery as practical, since a lead acid battery can supply a quite large current through a short circuit. For a fuse protecting a branch circuit, the source of power for the branch circuit is the bus bar in the fuse panel (and the fuse of course is directly attached there).
If the current is only flowing normally through the circuit, then it doesn't matter where along its path it gets interrupted. If, on the other hand, the current is flowing through a short circuit that doesn't include the whole of the circuit as designed then a fuse after the short circuit provides no protection whatsoever and fire is more likely because of that.
The chances of a hydrogen gas explosion due to a fusee blowing near a battery are extremely slim, particularly in a properly vented enclosure. Fuses are enclosed so they don't produce a significant spark external to the fuse body; some types (though not all) are more or less hermetically sealed. Sparking from a loose connection or when connecting or disconnecting the battery would be a greater concern.
If the current is only flowing normally through the circuit, then it doesn't matter where along its path it gets interrupted. If, on the other hand, the current is flowing through a short circuit that doesn't include the whole of the circuit as designed then a fuse after the short circuit provides no protection whatsoever and fire is more likely because of that.
The chances of a hydrogen gas explosion due to a fusee blowing near a battery are extremely slim, particularly in a properly vented enclosure. Fuses are enclosed so they don't produce a significant spark external to the fuse body; some types (though not all) are more or less hermetically sealed. Sparking from a loose connection or when connecting or disconnecting the battery would be a greater concern.
