MTFCA Forum

Robert, Thank you for posting that link / video. It is a perfect lesson on using fuses or other protective equipment. I have seen similar demonstrations from long ago and they are still appropriate for today.

I would like to ADD: DO NOT USE CIRCUIT BREAKERS IN PLACE OF THE MAIN FUSE. Circuit breakers will RESET when they cool and power will be applied again and again until something BURNS up to break the circuit. USE FUSES INSTEAD. Once the fuse blows, it has protected the system, as it was designed to and YOU will know there is a problem BEFORE there is damage to your precious model T.

Fuses are fine for lights and horns and everything except the ignition system. Do not use one in the magneto feed to the coils. If you have a distributor or are running your coils from the battery, and you have a fuse in that circuit, be sure to have spare fuses and also testing equipment to find a short which causes fuse to blow or you will be stuck wherever it blows.
Norm

Photo #1 Ten circuit period after market fuse block.
# 2. Inline 20 amp main fuse connected to yellow main power lead going to battery side of starter switch. Much easier to get to without crawling under the car on tour or pulling the floor boards in the dark. Makes it easy to disconnect battery from non starter circuits when working on the car.

While watching that video, I could actually SMELL the wires burning! bobt

Norm .... .... The primary use of that fuse is for the protection of the generator. Since the magneto AC circuit is only for ignition when you turn the key to magneto, I see no use in fusing that line.

Ford never used a fuse in a T.

You're absolutely correct, Larry , .....Ford did not use a fuse in their electrical system..... Recent and current Model T owners want to preserve what they have. There were times early in my Model T days that two of my Model T friends ended up with generator cutouts that were defective, and started car fires . I find it very disturbing that people do not want to protect their cars with fuses.

Todays modern cars including Fords have scores of fuses and some have several fuse blocks for different systems. Henry was late to the party and didn't put fuses in His cars until the model A was introduced in 1928. While other car makers had been using some sort of electrical fusing for a long time. My first model T was a 1926 touring and my introduction to it not being fused was when I tried to turn the headlights on the first night and sparks flew out quiet a surprise in the dark with burn smell to boot. I now have a simple fuse set up on my three Ts. When You know better you can do better. "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it"

Seems according to Dykes Automobile Encyclopedia the first application of the Fred Ames 2 unit starter and generator used a fuse! Perhaps when Ford got going on this system the fuse was eliminated, but reason today is to add one for safety sake.



And accessory catalogs offered a fuse for Fords!