Adding fuse to cig lighter

[mshirey]

I want to add an inline fuse to my cig lighter to help protect against frying my fuse box and another cig lighter harness. I'm not sure what amp fuse would be required. 15 amp seems way too low, but I'm not sure if a 20 or 25 amp is the right size. Any suggestions? Has anyone else put a fuse on this circuit? I would like to put some protection on the circuit since the recommended connection in the fuse box is to an unfused connection.

Thanks,
Mike

[oldsub86]

A couple of thoughts -

1. fuse based on the size of the wire that you are using

2. fuse low and see what happens - if you keep blowing them, you may need to increase the size from 15 to 20 or 30

3. try using a circuit breaker type like you would use in the setup for a travel trailer harness instead of using a fuse - they are cheap and should reset themselves if you overload temporarily

[mshirey]

I like the circuit breaker idea. Good suggestion. Thanks!

[71GMC_3/4T]

If you can find a headlamp circuit breaker, that would be a good size to start. I think they are 30 Amps. You would probably pop 15A if you used the lighter. Pretty much anything else you'd plug in there would work on 15A, with the exception of possibly one of those 3 billion candlepower super duper "No, I ain't spotlightin', Mr. Game Warden" spotlights.

[Class of 69]

Factory lighter harness had a 30 amp inline fuse. Use 10 gauge wire, no less than 12 for sure!

[mshirey]

Sounds like 30a should do it. Thanks for your help!