fusible link ?

[mcleoud151]

Hey everyone. I posted this in the electrical forum, but then figured I shoulda' probably posted here, 'cause you guys know what is up w/ these trucks!!!!! Sorry if i committed a sin by posting in two places.


I recently replaced the 350 in my 72 fleet and in doing so made a stupid mistake and hooked the jumper cables up wrong. Yea i know, i'm an idiot and wtf was i thinking. Shouldn't have had that last beer, apparently. Anyway, it fried the fusible link, so I sorta' spliced it back together and then forgot about it (was busy working on other problems and it slipped my mind). Today i was driving down the road and the rig died (totally, of course...everything!). Low and behold the wire is melted in two again. I taped it back together and limped home. I know i have to replace the whole thing, and that's no prob.

My question is, do you guys think something else is frying the wire? or is it just that it fried once and that was enough to make it keep happening when I didn't fix it correctly? I have my alpine headunit (12g) running to the fuse box, and I am wondering if maybe I am drawing too much power?

Should I be ok if I just replace the whole fusible link? I am planning on buying all new harnesses pretty shortly (a couple months) but I'd like to drive the truck until then.

Thanks in advance.
__________________

[Longhorn Man]

if your radio is doing it, then you need to throw it away.



I would repair it one more time... look over everything (esp external items... lights and stuff) and try it one more time.
Pay attention to whats going on if/when it blows again....just turned on the head lights? cranking the engine over?...ect

[BubbaGreen]

Replace the link....once its blown, its damaged. Might want to check the actual current with an amp meter, if the system is pulling too much current, you should attempt to isolate down to the culprit. Fusible links are cheap....may $3.00 bucks at autozone.

[sneakysnake]

You could wire in a circuit breaker, it will reset after it tips.
You might have something rubbing and shorting to ground.

[Longhorn Man]

sneakysnake, I used to recomend that or a regular fuse... but it was pointed out to me that they both are made to go quickly. Sometimes a spike in power may get result in the fuse blowing or the breaker tripping....when the fuseable link would hold out for a moment before burning.

[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

I bought a fusible link at auto zone for about 2.50. It was in the wiring section with all the terminals, etc. It was in a small pack that said for GM cars/trucks, I think it was either 10 or 12 gauge wire.

[mcleoud151]

Thanks guys. I replaced it ($1.59 at Knecht's) and the rig is running great. I think the issue (whatever it was) Fd up my alpine head unit though. It keeps blowing fuses everytime i put 'em in or connect it to power (the hu fuses, not the trucks). I have a 12g from my bat directly to the hu, just like the manual calls for, and i have it grounded just like it calls for. any ideas?

[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

Did you try running the wire from one of the IGN UNFUSED terminals on the fuse block under the dash? If you do make sure you have an inline fuse. That's how I wired my CB, should be the same for your radio.

[mcleoud151]

Originally Posted by Robert1970C20rstbukt

Did you try running the wire from one of the IGN UNFUSED terminals on the fuse block under the dash? If you do make sure you have an inline fuse. That's how I wired my CB, should be the same for your radio.

Naah, ran it straight from the batt, since that's what alpine says to do. There's an alpine fuse bfore it get's to the stereo (little box in the alltime power line). Maybe I'll just buy a freakin' boombox and put it on the seat next to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!