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Putting Wires together and trying to match the fuses.

Discussion in 'Toyota Trucks & SUVs' started by Trd174x4, Apr 29, 2021.

  1. Apr 29, 2021 at 12:35 PM
    #1
    Trd174x4

    Trd174x4 [OP] Active Member

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    I know this is going to sound Dumb, but please entertain me.
    I have Lights, Stereo, and extra Accessories added to my 2017 OR. It looks like a bird’s nest around the batter.
    So, what I have decided to do,
    is install a distribution block and Circuit breakers(instead of fuses).
    Make it all nice and orderly.
    For my lights I have a set of Ditch lights (inline 30amp fuse) and I have a Light Bar (inline 30amp fuse). I want to combine these two wires and make it one. Removing the 2 (30amp) fuses and replacing with one (50amp)circuit breaker or (60 amp).
    Is my math correct? Or do I need to keep them at 30amp? not very good with electrical and I know there is someone on here that this answer comes easy too them.
    thanks guys.
     
  2. Apr 29, 2021 at 12:46 PM
    #2
    0xDEADBEEF

    0xDEADBEEF Trash Aficionado

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    You could, but you're going to have to verify that the wire downstream of that breaker can handle 50 amps. Otherwise you could have a short somewhere and the breaker would let a full 50 amps go through the wire. If that wire isn't heavy enough (6 awg or thicker), you run the risk of melting it.

    I would keep them separate.
     
    tirediron and whatstcp like this.
  3. Apr 29, 2021 at 12:50 PM
    #3
    tirediron

    tirediron Well-Known Member

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    What he said. 50 amps is a lot of current, and while it’s unlikely, in the event of a dead short, you could wind up trying to pul that through a wire and fixtures only meant for 30. A certain way to let the magic smoke out!
     
    Enigma8246 likes this.
  4. May 3, 2021 at 3:36 AM
    #4
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    Increasing that Circuit to 60 amps means it will not open till the current draw hits 60 amps most likely long enough to melt the harness.

    unless both circuits wire is increased in size.
     
  5. May 3, 2021 at 4:06 AM
    #5
    Enigma8246

    Enigma8246 Well-Known Member

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    I would start by verifying that you actually need a 30 amp fuse for each of those lights. You have to have a pretty big light bar to need 30 amps (Rigid 50" pulls 25) and I would be very surprised if your ditch lights actually need that.

    Having said that, even if you can do it, it's still somewhat of a 'best practice' to keep them separate. For example assume they're on the same circuit (switched separately) and your ditch lights pull 10 amps (conservative guess). If your ditch lights but not your light bar are on and something in them malfunctions, the fuse being much larger than what they need could allow them to damage themselves before the fuse blows. This is unlikely and given that the ditch lights came with a 30 amp fuse the manufacturer probably agrees but it's why the best practice is to provide separate fuses.

    Like others have said you would have to verify that the wiring could handle whatever you increase the amperage to.
     

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