Your Car's Fuse Box Explained: Everything You Need to Know About The Stuff In Fuse Boxes!
Your car's fuse box is not just filled with fuses! The fuse box contains relays, diodes, many different types of fuses, and more components that serve the electrical system and protect it from damage.
0:00 Car Fuse Boxes Explained
The automotive fuse box is a hub of protection for the electrical systems in a vehicle.
0:39 What Does a Fuse Do?
Fuses protect circuits and fail when amperage gets too high, so you can replace an easy-to-access and inexpensive fuse rather than whatever expensive part it was protecting!
2:15 What Does a Relay Do?
Relays allow a small current to control a large current. Many switches and computers don't like high amperage, so the relay handles it for them!
3:30 What Does a Diode Do?
A diode only allows current to flow in one direction, protecting components that would be damaged by current travelling in the wrong direction.
4:10 How do You Find The Right Fuse, Relay, or Diode?
Finding the right fuse, relay, or diode is an important step in troubleshooting a circuit/electronic item's issue. There are two main ways to find them, and the best way will differ from vehicle to vehicle.
5:12 How to Remove a Fuse or Relay
Removing a fuse can often be done with a fuse puller, but needle nose pliers also work well. Relays can be a bit tougher, but a dedicated pair of relay pulling pliers can help tremendously!
6:11 Why are There Empty Spaces in the Fuse Box?
Are you missing fuses? Those empty spots may be there on purpose! Sometimes they are there to allow for future-proofing, but other times it's just where a feature would be fused if the vehicle came with that feature.
6:51 Bonus: Less Common Fuse Box Information!
This section contains information about breakers, fusible links, in-line fuse holders, fuse blocks, and more!
9:32 End Thoughts
Do you have any questions about automotive fuse boxes? After finishing the video, feel free to ask in the comments section, and be sure to check out our videos covering specific items from the fuse box in more detail!
Why use a fusible link instead of a fuse?
A fusible link deals with excessive amperage differently than a fuse does. Quick moments of high amperage/current are allowed to happen, but if the amperage is high for too long, or way too high, the fusible link melts/burns away, disconnecting the circuit like a fuse would. Many fusible links are the last bit of wire before the circuit grounds to the chassis.
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