gjcavana

Does anyone know why some fuses in the fuse box under the hood are cartridge and some are mini, even though they may have the same amperage?

The reason that I am asking is because I have been looking for a way to change the dash 12v power outlet (I still call it a cigarette lighter) to turn off when the car is turned off key is removed. I want to leave my Garmin plugged in so I don’t have to plug it in and out every time I get in the car. So after searching the internet forums I think I have found a good solution which is to use a “Add-A-Circuit Kit” which essentially jumps another switched circuit to the unswitched circuit providing a separate fuse for both. Before doing this though I would like to understand the difference between the Cartridge and the mini fuses and why they use each.

Does anyone have knowledge of this?
Thanks

houtex

The cartridge is called a JCASE fuse, a redesign of a high amp blade fuse called the MAXI, and they're used for high demand short time amp needs, with a nominal amp break rating.

The other is a blade type, ATO, I think, or maybe MINI. In either case, they're not rated for high demand short time amps like the JCASE, they're going to blow immediately when over amped.

Electric motors are one good example, their draw to get them to move from rest (peak) is quite a bit more amps versus their normal spinning (nominal), but for a very short time. If you have a fast blow fuse, game over. Slower blow fuse won't mind a bit of a hit before the current settles down.

The JCASE was designed for better packaging, as the MAXI is very big. But they're the same idea for how they work.