Fused negative cable

[Bluemanc100]

Can anybody tell me why a consumer with a cable going to my van battery would have a fuse on both the positive and negative leads?? Is it something to do with dual voltage devices?

No idea what it is but noticed it when connecting the solar panel second output to the van battery on my Elddis Majestic 155. Wondering if I need to fit a fuse to the negative cable I just fitted or will a fused positive be sufficient ?

 

[bigwood]

When I sorted the wiring between the solar controller and the leisure batteries on our van there was a fuse in the negative wire but nothing in the positive. Not helped that both wires were black.
I fitted trips rather than fuses and the correct thickness and colour wires.

 

[Bluemanc100]

When I sorted the wiring between the solar controller and the leisure batteries on our van there was a fuse in the negative wire but nothing in the positive. Not helped that both wires were black.
I fitted trips rather than fuses and the correct thickness and colour wires.

Thanks for that.. I went for a proper 4.0mm TÜV Approved 10m solar cable with black and red sheaths... fitted a fuse holder and a 15A fuse on the positive but nothing on the negative.. I assume it will be ok... if not it’s been a while since we had a bonfire ?

 

[autorouter]

I can't think of a reason to put a fuse in the negative wire in addition to a fuse in the positive wire. Are you sure it's a fuse? A shunt (for measuring amps) is normally put in the negative wire near the battery. It can look very like a link-type fuse, such as the 'midi' or 'mega' fuses.

 

[bigwood]

It was a 10amp fuse with crimp connectors on the blades of the fuse wrapped in insulating tape. The wiring in general was not very professional, badly routed and minimal thickness wires. It worked as it was but it must be more efficient now.

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[Bluemanc100]

I can't think of a reason to put a fuse in the negative wire in addition to a fuse in the positive wire. Are you sure it's a fuse? A shunt (for measuring amps) is normally put in the negative wire near the battery. It can look very like a link-type fuse, such as the 'midi' or 'mega' fuses.

Definitely look like fuses... They are both rated at 25A...

 

[autorouter]

Wondering if I need to fit a fuse to the negative cable I just fitted or will a fused positive be sufficient ?

A fuse in the positive is quite sufficient. If you look for example at the Victron website, there are wiring diagrams of example systems, for motorhome, yacht, off-grid houses, emergency vehicles and many more. None of them have a fuse in the negative line.

 

[MisterB]

not wanting to tell you about sucking eggs, but does it def go to negative terminals? it might be just a 'wrongly' coloured cable someone has used if they had no other cable colours?

 

[Bluemanc100]

not wanting to tell you about sucking eggs, but does it def go to negative terminals? it might be just a 'wrongly' coloured cable someone has used if they had no other cable colours?

It’s definitely to the negative.. the cables are black and the cables to the positive red.. no idea what the consumer is however and I’m not OCD enough to try and follow them ?