Fuse for navigation lights

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Paguilar956

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1991 tracker panfish special (FUSE)

I have a question about the fuse that is used for the navigation lights. I’m having the fuse blow out each time I use flip the switch for my navigation lights. It is only a 1 amp fuse. As you can see in the picture. There are a total of four fuses. The areator has been disconnected. I’m using that switch for a LED bar light that was installed.

what I am noticing is that when I have the led bar light on, and then turn on the navigation lights...the navigation lights stay on for about 10 mins, but then go out. The fuse goes out.

my question for everyone is this, since it’s a 1 amp fuse, can I upgrade to a higher amp fuse? For example, instead of using a 1 amp fuse use a 5 amp fuse instead to prevent the navigation light fuse from blowing out?
 

Paguilar956

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Jun 14, 2020
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I have a 1991 tracker panfish special....

I have a question about the fuse that is used for the navigation lights. I’m having the fuse blow out each time I use flip the switch for my navigation lights. It is only a 1 amp fuse. As you can see in the picture. There are a total of four fuses. The areator has been disconnected. I’m using that switch for a LED bar light that was installed.

what I am noticing is that when I have the led bar light on, and then turn on the navigation lights...the navigation lights stay on for about 10 mins, but then go out. The fuse goes out.

my question for everyone is this, since it’s a 1 amp fuse, can I upgrade to a higher amp fuse? For example, instead of using a 1 amp fuse use a 5 amp fuse instead to prevent the navigation light fuse from blowing out?
 

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76SeaRay

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Aug 24, 2017
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You need to determine how many amps are being drawn first. Incandescent bulbs draw a lot more power than LEDs depending upon how many you have of each. From there you would use something like 20% higher fuse. BUT, it depends upon the gauge of the wires and how the LED light bar is wired into those to ultimately determine how big the fuse can be..

A quick trial and error test is to stair step you way up in fuse rating to see when it stops blowing. When you get to the one that stops blowing DO NOT leave the lights on more than a few seconds. That is a crude way to estimate you current draw but better done with an digital volt/amp meter.. Once you know the current draw, look at the wire sizes to see if they are acceptable for the current draw. In any event careful with what you are doing, oversizing a fuse for the wire size can heat the wire and potentially cause a fire.

Sounds like you need to run separate battery lead to the LED light bar as a better solution.
 

dingbat

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Nov 20, 2001
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16,154
Your fusing the wire not the device.

If you know what gage wire your dealing with you Can get an idea of the max fuse you can use in the circuit.

Most accessory wiring is 16 gage. I would install a 3 or 5 amp fuse to see if it solves the problem
 

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Wintores

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You should check the pad if you suspect that the fuses cannot withstand the load. Unreliable contact with the pad leads to the formation of sparks in this place, excessive heating of the material, and the burnout of the fusible insert. This occurs when using low-quality parts whose thickness of the legs is less than normal or the contact group has lost its elastic properties.
 
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