RV FEATURE
2. IN-LINE FUSES
A few years ago, I was having trouble running a fridge in the back of my car. For ages, I thought it was a battery issue. Then I thought the fridge was faulty, but a new fridge didn’ t resolve the issue. I put up with it until one day I was discussing it with a mate of mine who is quite knowledgeable about 12V electrics. He suggested we try running the fridge directly off the battery to see if it worked.
Why I didn’ t think of this is beyond me. In any case, the fridge worked perfectly, indicating an issue with the power wiring. I tore apart the rear of the car and found an in-line fuse that had melted to the point it was creating a lot of heat and resistance. The fuse itself had not blown. It’ s a wonder it didn’ t catch fire.
Since then, I’ ve seen dozens of cases where these inline blade fuse holders have failed in exactly the same way. It doesn’ t seem to be restricted to any particular brand. The worrying thing is just how many manufacturers and installers use these holders.
I also believe the origin of the fuse can have a lot to do with the issue. If you purchase cheap fuses from online sources, they could be hopelessly inadequate. I’ m almost certain the fuse I had in my system was purchased as part of a pack from a dodgy $ 2 shop.
If you need to install an in-line fuse, these Midi fuses and holders are very reliable.
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