So confused (fuse question)

can someone PLEASE explain to me how to figure out what ampage of fuse i need?

What are you using it for?

neon, LED, cathodes, etc etc.

neons take like .1 amps each... so od the math. cathodes.. i guess maybe .2. a 15 amp fuse would be sufficient, a safe # to go with for lights.

well, i'm running a 2A fuse, and i'm kinda wondering if that'd be enough for everything (for now)

I guess one way to figure it out, is turn all the lights on, and start with big numbered fuses, and change them out gradually to smaller fuses until they start blowing. When they start blowing, just go slightly over that number, and that is the fuse you want.

For what you want, a 5 amp sounds like it would be more than sufficient.

In truth, the only thing that matters about a fuse other then it being a higher amperage than that of your current draw, is that the cable also be rated for as high or higher amperage then the fuse. The point of the fuse isn't to save your equipment from breaking in a power surge, but moreover to prevent a fire from it doing so. If your wires for some reason short, the fuse will blow before the wires get hot enough to start a fire. If your fuse is a higher amperage then the rating of the wires and you have a short, your wires could catch fire before the fuse blows. If you're lucky, the fuse will blow before too much of your equipment is damaged, but it's main purpose is to prevent everything from getting damaged.. =)

ditto on that mav...


if it's stranded, typical max amperage handling is for 12v applications (what it would be before it combusts, not what is recommended)

This is what we use at the shop as a guideline.
22 gauge wire - 12 amp
18 guage wire - 20 amp
16 guage wire - 28 amp
12 guage wire - 45 amp
10 guage wire - 70 amp
8 guage wire - 100 amp
4 guage wire - 130 amp
2 guage wire - 200 amp
0 guage wire - 280 amp
1/0guage wire- 330 amp

disclaimer - this is a GENERAL rating for absolute max amperage, and is not recommened draw for these wires!!! actual recommended amperage is about 5/8 that. They will get very hot and potentially catch fire to any materials they are touching!!!!!!!!!!