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Direction of aftermarket fuses (only for believers!)

It is with reluctance that I start another thread on this topic with the ONLY GOAL for believers to share their experience about aftermarket fuses.
To others: you can call us snobs, emperors w/o clothes,... etc but I hope you refrain posting just your opinion here. If you did not hear any difference, great, maybe there isn’t.

The main driver for this new post is that I am starting a project to mod my NAD M25 7 ch amp for my home theater. It has 19 fuses (2 per channel, 4 on the power supply board, 1 main AC) and I will try a mix of AMR Gold, SR Black and Audio Magic Platinum (anyway that is the plan, I may try out some other brands/models). As it is reasonably difficult to change them, esp the ones on each channel module that requires complete disassembly, I would like to know what the direction is for these models mentioned and of course, others who HAVE HEARD there is a difference please share your experience on any fuse model you have tried.

Fuses are IME directional:
Isoclean is one of the first to indicate the direction (2008/2009) on their fuses. Users of HiFi Tuning (when the awareness rose quite a bit amongst audiophiles) have mostly heard the difference.

As an IEEE engineer, I was highly skeptical of cabling decades ago (I like the speaker design of John Dunlavy but he said on many occasions that cables nor footers matter at all, WRONG!). Luckily, my curiosity proved me wrong as well. I see the same skepticism that I and many others had about the need for aftermarket cables many, many years ago now on fuses and esp on the direction on fuses.

Another example is the direction of capacitors (I do not mean electrolytic types). Even some manufacturers now and certainly many in the past did not believe it can make a difference sonically. Maybe some do but it takes time in the assembly to sort and put them in the right direction/order (esp as some of the cap manufacturers still do not indicate "polarity") so that maybe is one argument why this is not universally implemented.








jazzonthehudson
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
14,147 posts
 
jea48
2,072 posts
05-25-2016 1:07pm
"And what recognized industry third party would that be?

Better yet. I am not disputing whether a fuse is directional or not. I believe many that have actually taken the time and tested it for themselves. BUT, with that said can you furnish anything that proves a fuse is directional? Not from a manufacture of audio grade fuses, but rather from an industry independent third party testing laboratory."

The HiFi Tuning fuse measurements that are provided in data sheets on their website were obtained by an independent third party tester. You probably didn’t realize that. You say you believe many people have taken the time to test directionality. One assumes you’re referring to listening tests. The biggest skeptics of aftermarket fuses don’t even do that. Ah, the academic ivory tower.

As for independent third party tester it could be UL. I personally doubt UL would take the job. It could be someone else, some other organization or even individual. I actually don’t think measuring voltage drops or whatever across a fuse requires a rocket scientist. Maybe you can contact NASA or NIST or MIT and see if they are interested. Lol



Post removed 
stevecham
3,298 posts
 
Geoffakit,

Maybe half the fuses will in the correct orientation at the outset by chance.  But how would you know which ones?

And, I am not an English major.

Also, how can directionality of a fuse be a factor where alternating current operates requires both directions simultaneously?
jea48
2,944 posts
 
The HiFi Tuning fuse measurements that are provided in data sheets on their website were obtained by an independent third party tester.

For Fuse directionality?

If it would not be too much of an inconvenience could you produce a web link of the test from the actual independent testing laboratory. Please include certification of the testing lab.


Again for all others reading this thread I do not dispute whether fuses are directional or not. I personally have not experimented for myself. I do respect the findings of others that have. Until proven otherwise I take the word of those that say fuses are directional.

The question posed to geoffkait is to produce actually proof that a fuse is directional. So far he has not.

geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
14,147 posts
 
jea48
2,074 posts
05-25-2016 2:18pm
Geoffkait: The HiFi Tuning fuse measurements that are provided in data sheets on their website were obtained by an independent third party tester.

to which Jea48 responded,

"For Fuse directionality?"

For fuse directionality and other stuff. Even fuse directionality for AC circuits.

jea48 then asked,

"If it would not be too much of an inconvenience could you produce a web link of the test from the actual independent testing laboratory. Please include certification of the testing lab."

What about this? What about that? What about this? I’ve posted the link a bunch, so has Al. Try the search function. I don’t like to judge these things too harshly but it appears a little due diligence on your end might be advantageous.

jea48 then wrote,

"Again for all others reading this thread I do not dispute whether fuses are directional or not. I personally have not experimented for myself. I do respect the findings of others that have. Until proven otherwise I take the word of those that say fuses are directional."

That is very accommodating of you.

Then jea48 has the nerve to make the comment,

"The question posed to geoffkait is to produce actually proof that a fuse is directional. So far he has not."

So, you believe what everyone says about directionality of fuses without proof. But you hold my feet to the fire? I’m afraid that’s not logical. Don’t you know it’s not proper protocol to demand proof. Besides, I gave up trying to convince die hard skeptics a long time ago.

cheers
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