Automotive Fuses

What are automotive fuses?

Every electric circuit within an automotive application will be protected by an automotive fuse. The fuse contains a weak sacrificial link that breaks during an overload or short circuit scenario to protect the rest of the electrical system. Typically small and low in cost, automotive fuses are designed to break when an electrical circuit experiences an overcurrent or short circuit. With an increasing amount of electronics incorporated into vehicles, automotive fuses are ideal for protecting electronic systems such as ECUs, control modules, and other devices. Fuse types include numerous sizes of blade fuses and current limiter fuses which are suitable for use within electric powered warehouse vehicles such as forklift trucks and LLOPs.

What are blade fuses?

Blade fuses are the most common type of fuse found in modern cars and lorries, available in a range of sizes including maxi blade, regular, mini blade and micro blade. Maxi blade is for heavy duty vehicle applications, such as lorries, with the other sizes decreasing in dimensions for more compact and less demanding applications. Featuring a plastic body and metal prongs, automotive fuses are a simple push fit into their respective fuse socket. Blade fuses follow a standard colouring system that provides a visual indication to its current rating, speeding up identification. 

What other types of automotive fuse are there?

Bosch fuses can also be found in older European made cars. Easily identifiable, a Bosch fuse has conical ends with dimensions of 6×25mm. These fuses are also known as 6AC, GBC or Torpedo fuses.

Lucas Fuses are predominantly used in older cars manufactured in Britain, available in both a ceramic fuse and glass tube fuse. The ceramic fuse is easily identifiable by the canonical ends and is either 1 or 1.25 inches in length. 

A current limiting fuse reacts when its current responsive element is melted by a current within the fuse’s specified current limiting range, introducing a high resistance to reduce the current magnitude and duration, interrupting the current to protect the electrical circuit and connected equipment. Current limiting fuses come in all shapes and sizes for a wide range of different applications. 

Kempston Controls stocks a wide and varied range of automotive fuses from market leading brands such as Bussmann and Littelfuse designed to suit whatever your automotive application requires. Give our dedicated sales team a call on +44 (0) 1933 411411 or use the contact form above to discuss your automotive fuse needs.