NissanDiesel Forums

My truck lacks the fusible link between the battery and the alternator. I found a nice pair of fused wires in a Honda that actually has real fuses (the glass type) in them. I am ready to splice in the new fusible link. What Amp fuses should I put in ?

Wow, good question. Based on the wire gauge, I'd guess 50A.

Thing is, fusible links are by their nature slow. The GPs will draw upward of 150A surge (for a second). While a fusible link handles that nicely, a typical fuse won't.

IOW, a Honda fuse replacement for the Nissan fusible link may not be a workable solution.

I am listening, Al. What gauge wire would be a good fusible link then?

I'm not sure, but I guess I'd cruise the MotorMite rack at my FLAPS for one that is just slightly smaller than 10 ga. Not very scientific.

Here's a web link with some reference information on sizing fusible links:

http://www.madelectrical.com/catalog/fusible-link.shtml

I don't know what the alternator's output is--assuming 40-50A, a 12GA fuse link should be fine.

One way to tell if a fuse link is sized properly--feel it. If so hot that you can't hold onto it (under normal electrical load conditions, and assuming the ambient temperature is not 150 degrees F), it's probably undersized.

These fusible links are suppose to fail ... so, I have this 'hard'fix' handy in the glove box.