We Need A Separate Forum for Fuses


LOL, I'll bet I gotcha on that Title! ;)  BTW, I put this thread under "Tech Talk" category as it involves the system physically, not tangentially. 

More seriously, two question survey:

1. Do you think designer fuses are A) a Gift to audiophiles, or B) Snake Oil 

2. Have you ever tried them?  Yes or No

In the tradition of such questions on Agon, I'll weigh in as we go along... 
Feel free to discuss and rant all you wish, but I would like to see clear answers to the questions. :) 
douglas_schroeder
As for fuses wearing out, I just posted this on another thread and it's just as relevant here:
For those who still refuse to "know" how an aftermarket fuse works:
HRC Fuse consists of highly heat resistant material (such as ceramic) body having metal-end caps, which is welded by silver current carrying element. The fuse body internal space is completely packed with a filling powder. The material, which has filled the insider space, may be plaster of Paris, quartz, chalk, marble, dust and cooling mediums etc. That’s why it carries normal current without overheating. The heat being produced vaporizes the silver melted element. Chemical reaction taking place between silver vapor and filling powder results in high resistance substance, which helps in quenching the arc in fuse.

and,
  • It clears high as well as low fault currents.
  • Do not deteriorate with age.
  • Having high-speed operation.
  • Provides reliable discrimination.
  • Require no maintenance.
  • Cheaper than other circuit interrupting devices with same rating.
  • Permit consistent performance
  • Fusing operation is fast without Noise and Smoke

This is from a normal site on fuses, based on years old knowledge, and available to anyone who would care to look at it. But that would be akin to actually trying it, wouldn't it?

All the best,
Nonoise

trelja
@georgehifi You make a good point regarding the aging of fuses. I don’t think we have considered the degradation they endure by the turn on - turn off process over time. As someone who has had to run a lot of ageing tests in the electronic materials we developed and produced, ran them against our competition, and saw the ill effects, I should have put 2 and 2 together.
Regardless of whether you believe in the efficacy of using better materials in fuses, fuse direction, or just use the typical off the shelf fuse, it’s probably a good idea to think of fuses more like our engine oil, and regularly change them.


Yes you are correct and yes change them as a maintenance reason, but don’t tell me a >$100 fuse will sound like this compared to a quality $2 fuse

"I’ve noticed a lot is the surreal quality there now is to percussion, be it with stick, brush, hand and the drum, box, or instrument used to receive the blow or strike. I swear it seems like I can tell if an opening is facing or turned away from the mike and subtle movements of the instrument or positioning and changes with hand placements. It seems to be consistent with the room echo and decay manner that accompany it. Talk about "seeing into" a performance."


mikexxyz22 posts03-24-2018 6:59amGeorgeHiFi:
Guys like Nelson Pass are OK as designers go but are not thorough and detailed enough to bring a complete solution to market. This is left for others to do.

Your kidding, this basically says Geoff and Nonoise are more competent in fuse area than Nelson Pass is.
Guys like Nelson Pass, John Curl, Dan D’Agostino would’nt be seen dead promoting fuses in this forum the way the >$100 fusers here do.


Cheers George
If a mere fuse caused any audible change in sound in any of my equipment then you can be assured I would be rid of that useless POS boat anchor equipment in a flash. If a mere fuse makes an audible difference in your gear then you can be pretty much assured that anything else electrical you own or anything electrical your neighbours own will ALL affect your sound according to what is or isn’t plugged in. 


If a mere fuse caused any audible change in sound in any of my equipment then you can be assured I would be rid of that useless POS boat anchor equipment in a flash. If a mere fuse makes an audible difference in your gear then you can be pretty much assured that anything else electrical you own or anything electrical your neighbours own will ALL affect your sound according to what is or isn’t plugged in.
 

So, if you owned any gear from PS Audio or Wyred4Sound, you'd get rid of it? Rather hasty, wouldn't you say?

All the best,
Nonoise
To any of the non technical audophiles here who are confused about this "snake oil" subject.
Just save your dollars and get the right quality $2 fuse from here and be be happy that your not on the voodoo’ist merry go round, changing from Black to Blue to what next, Gold!!! perhaps, fuses that do nothing more than a quality $2 one can do.

https://www.digikey.com.au/products/en/circuit-protection/fuses/139?k=glass%20fuses

Cheers George