Thermal fuse ? - Electronic Circuits Projects Diagrams Free

ClydeCrashKop · 2nd September 2007, 04:27 PM

I have a 1993 Mercury Capri with only 10,000 miles on it. The excerpt below is regarding the airbag controller.

NOTE: The diagnostic monitor contains an internal thermal fuse that is not serviceable. The thermal fuse is controlled by the diagnostic monitor. The diagnostic monitor will blow its thermal fuse whenever a short on the deployment circuits occurs. The thermal fuse does not blow because of excessive current flowing through it. DO NOT attempt to jumper across the thermal fuse with a circuit breaker or any other type of fuse.
CAUTION: Do not install a new diagnostic monitor until the short has been located and corrected.
From the Capri forum I found out that just humidity can make the controller blow its fuse. (Design flaw) The short is gone and the diagnostic monitor is $200.00. The thermal fuse looks like a glass reed switch and is located inside a tiny box, next to the heater that blows it. Somewhere they said it is 10 amps but they melt it intentionally with heat.
Does anyone know where I can get a 10 amp, thermal fuse like this?

Sceadwian · 2nd September 2007, 05:31 PM

Doesn't sound like a real fuse, sounds like a thermally triggered switch. There has to be more than two wires going to it right?

ClydeCrashKop · 2nd September 2007, 06:38 PM

No, just 2 axial leads. The burnt one has a metallic black area on the inside of the glass tube. There are no end caps like an automotive fuse. Like a 1/8 inch blown glass tube.
Actually, the little plastic box with the heater and thermal fuse might come as an assembly with 4 leads and look like a small PCB relay. I would be happy to get that.

hysteresis · 2nd September 2007, 06:59 PM

Have you tried Radio Shack? As the equivalent store in the UK, Maplin Electronics, stocks a range of them (in 9 temperature ratings from 93°C to 240°C):

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?...y=2m9#overview

(NB If you click the 'Specification' tab, you will see that they are rated at 10 Amp).

ClydeCrashKop · 2nd September 2007, 07:48 PM

Thanks Sceadwian,
I found them. Also known as TCO, thermal cut out.
I also found out something about Googling and will post it in Chit Chat.

ClydeCrashKop · 2nd September 2007, 09:40 PM

Thanks Hysteresis
That is even better

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2nd September 2007, 04:27 PM	(permalink)
ClydeCrashKop	Thermal fuse ? I have a 1993 Mercury Capri with only 10,000 miles on it. The excerpt below is regarding the airbag controller. NOTE: The diagnostic monitor contains an internal thermal fuse that is not serviceable. The thermal fuse is controlled by the diagnostic monitor. The diagnostic monitor will blow its thermal fuse whenever a short on the deployment circuits occurs. The thermal fuse does not blow because of excessive current flowing through it. DO NOT attempt to jumper across the thermal fuse with a circuit breaker or any other type of fuse. CAUTION: Do not install a new diagnostic monitor until the short has been located and corrected. From the Capri forum I found out that just humidity can make the controller blow its fuse. (Design flaw) The short is gone and the diagnostic monitor is $200.00. The thermal fuse looks like a glass reed switch and is located inside a tiny box, next to the heater that blows it. Somewhere they said it is 10 amps but they melt it intentionally with heat. Does anyone know where I can get a 10 amp, thermal fuse like this? __________________ C:\WHUT ? Beware the asterisk *

2nd September 2007, 05:31 PM	(permalink)
Sceadwian	Doesn't sound like a real fuse, sounds like a thermally triggered switch. There has to be more than two wires going to it right? __________________ "Because I be what I be. I would tell you what you want to know if I could, mum, but I be a cat, and no cat anywhere ever gave anyone a straight answer, har har."

2nd September 2007, 06:38 PM	(permalink)
ClydeCrashKop	No, just 2 axial leads. The burnt one has a metallic black area on the inside of the glass tube. There are no end caps like an automotive fuse. Like a 1/8 inch blown glass tube. Actually, the little plastic box with the heater and thermal fuse might come as an assembly with 4 leads and look like a small PCB relay. I would be happy to get that. __________________ C:\WHUT ? Beware the asterisk * Last edited by ClydeCrashKop; 2nd September 2007 at 06:45 PM.

2nd September 2007, 06:59 PM	(permalink)
hysteresis	Have you tried Radio Shack? As the equivalent store in the UK, Maplin Electronics, stocks a range of them (in 9 temperature ratings from 93°C to 240°C): http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?...y=2m9#overview (NB If you click the 'Specification' tab, you will see that they are rated at 10 Amp).

2nd September 2007, 07:48 PM	(permalink)
ClydeCrashKop	Thanks Sceadwian, I found them. Also known as TCO, thermal cut out. I also found out something about Googling and will post it in Chit Chat. __________________ C:\WHUT ? Beware the asterisk * Last edited by ClydeCrashKop; 3rd September 2007 at 01:30 PM.

2nd September 2007, 09:40 PM	(permalink)
ClydeCrashKop	Thanks Hysteresis That is even better __________________ C:\WHUT ? Beware the asterisk *