15 amp fuse replace with a breaker

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I'm wondering if any company makes a 15 amp breaker to replace a 12 volt blade fuse? Of course it would not be cheap as it would have to be arc fault protected.

[Peg_Leg]

An Arc Fault Breaker sounds like something required for explosive atmospheres.

[time2roll]

Are you going through fuses for some reason? Fix the issue s/b primary focus.
For general purpose bring a few spares.

[GordonThree]

3oaks wrote:
120VAC Arc Fault Circuit Breakers are specialized breakers and expensive compared to a standard breaker.

NEMA

x2 - I've never heard of a 12v arc fault breaker.

I've worked to eliminate the plug in type 12v breakers, as they're terrible. The cheapo ones I've experienced created a huge voltage drop, and also haven't reliably opened at anything close to their rated current.

I have a few Blue Sea / Cooper Bussman marine grade non resetting breakers, they work well and have a lot less voltage drop.

If you have a circuit that is constantly blowing fuses, describe it to us, it sounds like something is wrong, and putting in a breaker could do more harm than good.

[CA_Traveler]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Arc Fault Breaker For DC

LUCAS anything electrical...

They arc

They fault

They break

Funny!

[wa8yxm]

To answer the O/P's questionl.. Yes Buss, Fustron, Little Fuse.. all make 'em

Where to find 'em

Any auto parts store.. Such as Advance Auto, Bumper to Bumper, Discount Auto, Auto Zone.. NAPA.. You likely will not find them at super store Auto Departments but may get lucky at Truck stops and likely will at "Chrome Shops"

Very easy to find 'em.

Oh, they come in assorted types as well. Some respond to over load faster, or slower

Some will remain tripped till power or load are removed, then reset shortly after. Some will reset after time and cause the load to "Blink"l.... The ones I have hold off till power is removed or the load is removed... I got 'em at Auto Zone.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

1/4" male faston terminal to 16 gauge wire. 12" length. A pair of them. Connect to auto reset stud breaker. Goop finished connections. Jam faston studs into ATO fuse block slots. .250" is their size. Good to go.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Arc Fault Breaker For DC

LUCAS anything electrical...

They arc

They fault

They break

[CA_Traveler]

pianotuna wrote:
My need is quite simple. I run a 400 watt inverter from a cigarette lighter plug (ya I know, I should not).

Let's see: 400W/12.7V = 31A. Really? Dam* right you should not!

Why not do it right?

[CA_Traveler]

AFAIK arc fault breakers are for 120V AC in homes and not DC. Never heard of an arc fault breaker for DC.

So what is going on?

[MrWizard]

Don
all the metal can 12v ATC breakers are too thick to fit in between other fuses

you have two choices make up an extension socket
or
leave the tabs long, cover the unused length of bare tab with heat shrink tubing
expose only the ends to fit in the fuse socket
let the breaker extend out and over the neighboring fuse

[pianotuna]

Thanks westend. Too thick to fit 😞

[westend]

Bussman blade style $4.62 Waytek will ship.

[pianotuna]

My need is quite simple. I run a 400 watt inverter from a cigarette lighter plug (ya I know, I should not). So far I've only blown one breaker. Ummm that was 3 nights ago when I grabbed the wrong cord--and plug in an oil filled heater on the 600 watt setting. Fortunately I was in front of a Walmart (yes I do have a replacement in the RV but it was late and I was tired). Unfortunately they were out of 15 amp ones so I chose to buy a "kit" which was on a rack saying $12. Imagine my surprize at the till, when it came up as $34. The clerk marked it down and I decided I may as well have it. It has some sort of tester, but I'm too busy getting down the road to look at it.

I thought it may be a better solution--just as I replaced the 60 am OEM fuse with a "home brew" breaker. (It was god awful hard to solder, so I thought an "off the shelf" might be easier--and since I don't have an iron with me......)

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Don, breakers to replace ATO-ATC plastic blade fuses are notoriously unreliably inaccurate. If you get a good one to begin with it will stay accurate. I just went through an O'Reilley 30 amp breaker and it was GARBAGE. I melted the brass tangs off of it testing it in front of their store. Go with delcity.net if you can. That auto parts chain is on my ---- list. They wanted $33 for a Chinese serpentine belt that cost $27 at a Dodge dealer. I do not know about what other parts stores carry. Most of the breakers have snap to length fit blades. Check before snapping too short. Some of these breakers must have all power removed before they will reset.

Thanks for reminding me. Tomorrow I fit a stud type breaker for the radiator fan. I would tend to trust a NAPA breaker. But delcity.net, Blue Seas and genuinedealz sell good stuff. JMHO

[enblethen]

You will need to search for breakers
O'Reilly auto parts