[SBE] Fusible link -- when you really have nothing to work with!

[Cowboy]

On Thursday 12 March 2009 01:37 pm, Chris Hoopes wrote:

>  A single strand of wire out of lamp-cord, about the thickness of a single human hair works as a fuse.

>  Good up to about 1 amp with a 12 volt DC device. 


 Depends on the wire.

 A single strand out of stranded Cat-5 is good for about 4 amps slo-blo,
 and about 8 amps fast blow. ( that's the .005 inch stuff )
 A single strand out of 8451 about 6 amps slo-blo and about
 12 fast blow. ( that's about .009 inch )
 A single strand of aluminum out of that cheap double-shield
 RG-6 is about 3 amps fast blow, and doesn't have a slo-blo mode.
 Didn't have my mic with me that day, so I don't know the wire size.

 The only real problem with copper or steel wire is that it will heat
 considerably, and can cause a fire slo-blo.
 Aluminum doesn't do that. It just falls apart.

 Though I've thought of trying solder, as it would behave much
 like aluminum, I've not had opportunity to gauge the current
 required to "pop" it at any gauge.

 My favorite "fusible link" is still Radio Scrap clip leads.
 I wouldn't try a paper clip. Much too much heat before
 it would actually pop, much like a penny.

-- 
Cowboy

http://cowboys.homeip.net

A prohibitionist is the sort of man one wouldn't care to drink with
-- even if he drank.
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