Fuses rely on getting hot enough to melt the wire. Quick blow can easily go
on initial surge, and need considerably above the rating to blow on
continuous current. Slow blow take about the same length of time and
overcurrent as a thermal circuit breaker. Both thermal c/bs and fuses drop
voltage - that's how they get hot.

Magnetic trip breakers drop less voltage, and have a more precise trip, but
cost 2 - 3 times the price.

Fuses are to protect the wiring, if the wiring burns before the fuse blows
then the wire is much too low rated.

Personally I use breakers, and appropriate gauge wiring. It means I don't
have to have a bunch of spare fuses handy. Murphy guarantees that a fuse
will blow just before take off on the best day of the year, and that
someone wil have 'borrowed' the little bag of spare fuses.


At 08:23 15 October 2013, Jim White wrote:
I agonised over this when I re did my own panel. My conclusions we

1) I would not reset or replace a fuse in flight so did not need them on
the panel.

2) Thermal trips need a large overcurrent for a long time before they go.
Low value trips introduce a large voltage drop.

So, I fitted in line blade fuses for all my equipment and use the panel
space for other things. I did buy a fuse block but decided it was too big
and made the wiring cumbersome.

Jim