I've been troubleshooting my system and it's getting frustrating! This is the fourth time I've had to restart my test. It turns out that one battery was pulling power instead of all three due to some faulty MRBF fuses on two of the batteries. I initially checked the fuses first since I noticed the issue, but they looked fine. After exhausting other possibilities, I went back to the fuses, replaced them with spares, and everything started working again! So my question is, can fuses actually fail without visibly being blown? Also, I'm double-checking my calculations for fuse sizing. I originally thought I needed 60amp fuses for each battery, but I miscalculated and determined I need 75amps—so I'm going to go with 80amps. Still doesn't explain why the previous fuses looked okay, though. I have new ones on the way, so I hope to finally run this test soon. On a positive note, I managed to run my entire setup on one battery for over 12 hours!
2 Answers
Absolutely, fuses can fail without showing obvious signs like a blown window. It's a common issue in electrical systems. Sometimes, the internal element of the fuse can be damaged while the outer casing still looks intact. As for sizing your fuses, it's smart to go with an 80A if your calculations suggest you need a 60A. Just make sure your wiring is also rated to handle that current. Using larger wires helps prevent overheating and potential issues down the line. Keep in mind the ampacity of your conductors too—it shouldn't exceed that of the protective device.
I've dealt with similar issues before! If you're really unsure about a fuse, it's always best to test it. Just replacing fuses without checking can lead to future problems. Use a multimeter to measure resistance and check for voltage drop across the fuses when under load. Just a tiny difference in resistance between the batteries can cause power to come primarily from the battery with the lowest resistance. So it’s worth investigating that.
Good tip! I usually forget to check voltage drops, but that can be a game changer in diagnosing issues. Thanks for the reminder!