Electrical Illiterate Question

[DrKen]

....regarding fuses. If I am connecting a device to my 1200GS by the accessory socket which, as I understand it, is protected by an electronic cutout triggered when the load exceeds 5A, do I need to bother with the inline fuse on the lead supplied with the device, or can I shorten tyhe cable and dispense with the inline fuse??

 

[walti]

The answer is yes you can dispense with the fuse and shorten the cable, the electronic over protection system is safe to use and won't fail to trip.

You will of course now get a flood of people telling you that whatever you do don't do away with the fuse!

 

[alimey4u2]

What is the rating of your device ??

 

[Pressurized]

The 5A load limit (and I'm not sure it isn't more) protects the circuits on the GS-side of the accessory socket from overloading.

If your device is rated at greater then 5A you don't need a fuse to protect it but it will continually trip out the accessory socket if it tries to draw more than 5A.

If it is rated at less than 5A (i.e. if it was supplied with a fuse of less than 5A) then you need that fuse to protect the device.

 

[alimey4u2]

The 5A load limit (and I'm not sure it isn't more) protects the circuits on the GS-side of the accessory socket from overloading.

If your device is rated at greater then 5A you don't need a fuse to protect it but it will continually trip out the accessory socket if it tries to draw more than 5A.

If it is rated at less than 5A (i.e. if it was supplied with a fuse of less than 5A) then you need that fuse to protect the device.

Exactly........

 

[DrKen]

The 5A load limit (and I'm not sure it isn't more) protects the circuits on the GS-side of the accessory socket from overloading.

If your device is rated at greater then 5A you don't need a fuse to protect it but it will continually trip out the accessory socket if it tries to draw more than 5A.

If it is rated at less than 5A (i.e. if it was supplied with a fuse of less than 5A) then you need that fuse to protect the device.

Cheers for that very clear explanation. I'll keep the 1.5 A fuse on my GPS.

 

[walti]

Motorrad concepts CAN bus bike power lead

Seems that even Mr Dutch agrees that the CAN Bus circuit protection system is OK for protecting a GPS.....

(not that I'm bitter or anything you realise! )

 

[Fanum]

Motorrad concepts CAN bus bike power lead

Seems that even Mr Dutch agrees that the CAN Bus circuit protection system is OK for protecting a GPS.....

(not that I'm bitter or anything you realise! )

It probably is....but let's face it, an inline fuse holder and fuse will cost you 50p (or free from a mate who's got one lying around ) and a blown GPS could cost you several hundred pounds.....

Is it worth the risk

Fuse protect it , even if only for peace of mind

 

[Packer]

Cheers for that very clear explanation. I'll keep the 1.5 A fuse on my GPS.

You don't need to Ken. But here again the Scots hav always been keen tohave belts and braces. Or are you a Pict?

 

[John Armstrong]

Cheers for that very clear explanation. I'll keep the 1.5 A fuse on my GPS.

Does your mains lead have a fuse in the power line?

 

[walti]

CAN bus bikes have an electronic current limiting device as part of the wiring to the accessory sockets.

Adding a fuse in series with this device does nothing extra.

The electronic device will trip faster than a fuse blows on marginal over currents and short circuit protection is marginally better from a wire fuse - most of the time....

The only item fitted to the front accessory socket is the GPS and it's associated wiring, so the only device that is going to cause the fuse or circuit breaker to trip is the GPS or it's wiring.

If the wiring short circuits - the fuse or the circuit breaker essentially offer equal protection.

If the GPS is faulty and starts to draw an over current - apart from the fact it's probably already knackered, the circuit breaker will offer better protection than a fuse.

 

[STUBBS]

it wont do any harm if you leave it in

 

[John Armstrong]

it wont do any harm if you leave it in

Apart from it's one more thing to go wrong, ie two extra crimps, fuse blows due to it being faulty / incorrectly marked.