Circuit-breakers?

[528Hz]

Been pondering on replacing fuses with circuit breakers, resetting circuit breaker is easier then dicking around with fuses, also there are auto reset ones. Would there be any reason why not to use 12 v cb?

 

[markjenn]

Been pondering on replacing fuses with circuit breakers, resetting circuit breaker is easier then dicking around with fuses, also there are auto reset ones. Would there be any reason why not to use 12 v cb?

CBs are not typically used on vehicles except for special high-amp circuits. I suspect the main reason is cost and bulk, but I'd think a simple fuse is also more reliable and less prone to false trips, especially in high-vibration/high-G-load applications. CBs are also much more common on high-voltage/high-amp circuits, perhaps it is difficult to make, for example, a 3A-12V circuit breaker that won't false trip on a vehicle bouncing around.

But if I had to come up with a single answer it would be cost.

As mod potential, seems like a high-cost/low-benefit application.

- Mark

 

[Tremor38]

Breakers are much deeper, wider, and longer than fuses. Even if you're carrying a spare for each fuse, they take way less overall space than breakers. I won't get into the reliability argument because I've seen breakers hold-up pretty well in some tough condiditons...although I'm not sure how they would fare if you took them for a swim I wouldn't install breakers primarilty because space is already at a premium. Even if that wasn't a problem, that's a fairly radical departure from OEM, so your resale value would go straight down the tube.

 

[EJV]

Auto reset is a good way to have a meltdown/fire in the event of a short. It trips, it resets, it trips, it resets, it trips, etc.

Just my two and a half cents.