Need replacement chiller fuse

[AlexKilpatrick]

The fuse on my chiller blew, and I am having a hard time finding a replacement. It is 5mmx20mm, 16 A (!) 250V That's a small fuse for such a large current, and I haven't been able to find it at Radio Shack, Fry's, Home Depot, or Lowes. I can order it, but I won't be able to get it until monday or tuesday.

I know there are some more specialized electronic stores in Austin, but I am having trouble finding a place that is actual retail.

Yes, I know I should have spares on-hand. :(

[SBreef]

Try GrayBar. That is an uncommon size fuse, 16 amp, but the physical size is not! You could try a 15, but never over fuse. Meaning a larger amperage fuse.
If you replace it and it blows again, you have something very wrong with the unit.

[scuba_steveo]

I got mine from a fan specialty store.

[AlexKilpatrick]

I looked online at digi-key, which is *the* ultimate place for all things electronic, and even they didn't stock 16A fuses.

I checked at the manufacturers website, and they have a replacement switch you can order which uses a standard 15A 1 1/4" fuse instead. However, since the fuse is integrated with the power switch, I decided to just take care of that myself, which was easy enough with a trip to home depot and radio shack. I added an in-line fuse holder to a replacement power cord and now everything is working fine. I also have a fuse that is easy to replace in the future.

As to why it blew, it is because the front radiator was clogged with dog hair. (argh) This has happened once before. Of course, the other open question is why did a 16 A fuse blow on a 15 A circuit? Alternatively, why do I need a 15 A fuse on a 15 A circuit? Finally, why is the fuse 15 A in the first place? I have measured the power consumption, and it is only about 7 A when it is running.

[SBreef]

As to why it blew, it is because the front radiator was clogged with dog hair. (argh) This has happened once before. Of course, the other open question is why did a 16 A fuse blow on a 15 A circuit? Alternatively, why do I need a 15 A fuse on a 15 A circuit? Finally, why is the fuse 15 A in the first place? I have measured the power consumption, and it is only about 7 A when it is running.

As to the fuse blowing first, fuses blow much faster than a Circuit Breaker tripping.
Why a 15 amp fuse, rather than a fuse a little greater than the power consumed. Start up. When a device starts up, it will pull almost twice as much current on start up surge, than is normally needed run the unit. Some manufactures use slow blow fuses for this purpose, but when something is around water, it is best to have a Fast Blow fuse.


Alex, I am not geting on you, but to anyone who reads this post, "Never" over fuse a unit, meaning replacing a blown fuse with a higher amperage fuse. Never replace a Fast Blow fuse with a Slow Blow fuse. You are asking for truoble if you do. Fuses are used to protect your equipment from further damage and yourself, should the fuse blow. If you over fuse or use a slow blow in place of a fast blow, you will cause more damage to the unit and possibly burn down your house.

[AlexKilpatrick]

[quote="SBreef"]

Alex, I am not geting on you, but to anyone who reads this post, "Never" over fuse a unit, meaning replacing a blown fuse with a higher amperage fuse. Never replace a Fast Blow fuse with a Slow Blow fuse.

This is good advice. I would also like to add that there is usually a reason a fuse blows; they rarely blow just out of the blue. If you don't find out why the fuse blew, it will probably just blow again when you replace it. This is why you don't want to over fuse, because that problem will still be there and you will draw too much current, kill your device, burn down your house, etc.

I remember in the old days when people used to replace the round, screw-in filters that they had in houses with a penny. :o

[SBreef]

I remember in the old days when people used to replace the round, screw-in filters that they had in houses with a penny. :o

Lets not forget Aluminum foil or cigarette foil!
Let me pass on this story from another electronics tech,

Back in the old days of the home satellitte industry, in the beginning you had to go and hand crank your dish to move it. Then they came out with the motorized units with a joystick. Well he had a customer whose joystick went dead. Now, there was not much to these units. Mainly a transformer, some rectifier diodes and a "Fuse". Well the fuse was "Blown" and he did not have another, but he did have a .22 cal shell. So, he put in the shell and Guess What happened next?? KABOOM!!! :o :o Yes, it was a "LIVE". So, he took it in for repair and had to explain there was a couple of "New" holes in the controller!! :lol :lol :lol :lol

[JeremyGlen]

The More You Know!!!

[AlexKilpatrick]

Whoops. Nevermind

[alteredego]

they have them for 53 cents each at atex or altex I cant remember what one is the components store here in san antonio. I found that the 15A plastic fuse with the copper extrenal filiment works if you shave the plastic holder down a bit. I've had mine in for about a month and a half, mostly because I was too lazy to go up and buy the right one once i got it working.