In line fuse for Renard DC supply

[xmus]

I've decided to fuse my low voltage connection. Why blow my PC power supply when i can just blow a fuse. If you do this, figure about .04Amps (Peak) per XMUS board at 12V. This assumes NON-PWM Renard code.

So in my case 8 renards = 0.32, so i'll use a 1/2 amp fuse (if one exists, otherwise a 1amp). All i could find in my glove box was a 2Amp for now....

I just sold my digital camera (in the process of upgrading) so this was taken on my cell phone. Just your basic moisture proof inline fuse with Anderson Power Poles.

[P. Short]

Not to be too argumentative (hah!), but I don't think that the fuse will be very useful. The usual reason for using fuses is to protect the wire from overloads that might start fires. It is not going to be very good at protecting any sort of electronics, as the electronics will probably be fried long before the fuse blows.

--

Phil

[xmus]

Not to be too argumentative (hah!), but I don't think that the fuse will be very useful. The usual reason for using fuses is to protect the wire from overloads that might start fires. It is not going to be very good at protecting any sort of electronics, as the electronics will probably be fried long before the fuse blows.

--

Phil

Yeah, we know Phil, you don't like to ARGUE :) grin.

The goal here is as follows.... I have done the math, and i think that i'm okay running many xmus boards from my 12V PC power supply, but in the event that the cat5 cable (i'm using 3 conductors for + and 3 conductors for -) can't take the abuse, overheats, melts, and shorts.... If i had a 1/2 Amp fuse, it would blow and protect my PC from shutting down, or any other damage to the power supply.

That sound reasonable?

[xmus]

I've upgraded to a fuse on both the plus and the ground side.
The reasoning being, AC power could find its way back through the ground into the computer. I did actually find 1/2Amp fuses (radio shack and home depot have them) as well, so I'm good there.

Also, a couple of folks requested a picture of my adapter that takes power from the power connector to a hard drive/cdrom. It is just a power splitter that i modified.

Dave

[xmus]

Just wanted to mention that my 12V and Ground fuses paid for themselves tonight big time.
When smashing the bazooka together, the heat sinks for the 12V regulators smashed down onto something (maybe the pic pins, maybe the 1n4001 diode, i don't really know) and caused a dead short to ground on the 12V side. My fuses kept blowing, and it took me 10 minutes (and 4 fuses) to find the problem.

If I hadn't had fuses, i would likely be replacing some CAT5 tonight.......

[Wayne J]

Fuses are our friends. :) Glad to hear they saved the day.

[xmus]

Fuses are our friends. :) Glad to hear they saved the day.

That could have been really ugly Wayne, that chunk of cat5 goes from the PC around the garage, through a hole I drilled into the crawl space, under the house, up through a phone jack, into the living room. It took more than 2 hours to install originally. then the next piece goes back out the phone jack, under the house, and through a vent to get to the front yard.... not pretty!

[YSEN]

Xmus,
Just wondering what fuse holders you are using and where I could find them. Also what Anderson power poles are those you have? Are they the PP75? Just trying to line out what parts I will need to do a similar setup.

Thanks,
dhavard

[xmus]

Xmus,
Just wondering what fuse holders you are using and where I could find them. Also what Anderson power poles are those you have? Are they the PP75? Just trying to line out what parts I will need to do a similar setup.

Thanks,
dhavard

Hello, I might have gotten the fuse holders at walmart or shucks, I don't remember. I now prefer 5x20 mm fuse holders because that is the same type of fuse the Renard16 uses....

The power poles are the 15amp variety.
Check here:
byonics.com

[JaysonH]

Dave,

What is the LCD device in the middle of the power source leads? An Ammeter?

[YSEN]

I believe that's a DC Ammeter.

[xmus]

I believe that's a DC Ammeter.

Correct! Its a "watts up" meeter.

http://byonics.com/ or you can get it directly from Anderson.