I'm -this- close to getting my install sorted out. Have decided to finish it off myself since I can't find a 'pro' who sounds like they know what they're doing with an old car.

All the wiring is hooked up, and I've been told what to do with the crossovers, but what about fuses? I understand that I need one by the battery, on the power wire, but how do I find out what rating I need, and how is it installed?

Hope someone can help! Thanks... Also, any other last minute tips would be most appreciated. I'll also need help setting up the sound once it's all hooked up, but that's another day...

The fuse by the battery is there only to protect the wiring -
ie if you short the end of the wire back in the trunk to ground, or
some piece of metal chews its way through the insulation in a couple
of moths, it will make sure that you don't melt the cable and set
everything near it on fire.

So the exact rating isn't all that critical, as long as it isn't too
low (triggered by normal playing) or to high (allows cable to melt
without triggering, which is the worst case...).

One idea: sum up the fuses on your amps, then apply reality factor
(you can normally go somewhat lower than the sum). If you think you
might add more amps you mightas well use the bigger fuse at once
as long as the wire can take it!
I'm sure someone has a table of max current capacity for different
gages of wire. OK, hang on... This might be useful...

If you branch out from a distribution block, don't forget to fuse
there too, according to that wires (probably thinner) capacity.

Mounting varies with brand/type of fuse holder, but normally the wire
attachment is sort of compression fitting, and the holder has a small
foot by which it can be mounted with screws or double sided tape.

/Michael

Okay as far as i understand it the main reason for this fuse is to protect the wiring not the amp if you have a crash or grounding with your wires underneath or anything else that can damage the wire insulation can cause a short and if that fuse ain't there then at best you can discharge your battery or at worst fire and explosion. As to rating most shops should be able to point you in roughly the right direction it need not be too exact as the fuse on the amp should protect that.

Hope it helps

Generally (this is the supply to the amp, right?) you look what fuse is on the amp and put the same value as close as possible to the battery in the amp feed line.

Hugo

Thanks everyone! I think that's sorted it....

Remember that the fuse needs to be inside a weatherproof enclosure if it's in the engine compartment. They make special enclosures for that sort of thing- just "any old fuse holder" won't do.

Also, the wiring and connections to the battery should be done "properly", i.e., they make special heavy-duty attachments just for hooking your amp power cables up to your car battery. If you jerry-rig something, it's bound to get corroded quickly and you'll start having odd intermittent problems with noise etc.

___________
Tony Fabris