Periodic replacement of Audio Grade Fuses?

"Under normal conditions, Audio Grade Fuses should be replaced from every 6 to 12 months the longest."

I have some ocean front property in Colorado for sale...

Maybe they will offer a baker's dozen in the interest of providing better value to their customers?

I suppose science has its limits and a really good fuse can only be really good for a short time. Its a darn shame. I suppose if a good bottle of wine must be replaced frequently if partaken of why not fuses?

It's a wonder all those high tension utility lines keep working for years on end. Also, I'd better get my house rewired. It's been almost a year since the last full replacement.

Hiendmuse, "I have had regular Buss fuses in my equipment for many years without need for replacement."

I believe that should serve as the definitive statement regarding fuses.

Damn, I could have been making all kinds of money for years.
I have tons of sensitive & expensive equipment out there that that use fuses. These fuses make audio fuses look very cheap. I could speak with my customers and say "Fuses always carry high electric current thereby easily causing metal fatigue" their equipment could be damaged because of the varying loads on those fuses and should be replaced at regular intervals. NOT. I would lose every customer I have and be laughed at and here I thought audio fuses were suppose to be a better than the average fuse, WOW.

Remember that old TV program called "Candid Camera". In one episode they worked in an auto repair shop, and when customers came in for an oil change they "sold" a change of air in the tires. Surprising how many people bought into the idea.

This fuse thing remminds me of that TV program.

Audiofools will believe anything - why should fuses be any different? Look at a Mapleshade catalog and all the "truths" are exposed as scams (or are they just having some fun with all the "truths"?)

Just do a search on fuses and have a good laugh. Or even yet, break-in of dedicated circiuts. A real laugher.

Its really not far fetched given the delicate structural nature of many fuses to think that any special sonic attributes that might be attributed to the fuse might change or not remain as new

Maybe newness of a fuse is a big factor in how it sounds?

Someone should investigate this. It won't be me though.

I am awaiting Mapman's patented "Funky Fuses"!

I am awaiting Mapman's patented "Funky Fuses"!

Funky fuses! $$$$s.....!

Under normal conditions, Audio Grade Fuses should be replaced from every 6 to 12 months the longest."

LOL!! Don't forget that the cables carrying the signal wear out too. Cables need to be replaced every 12-24 months. ;^)

Maximum Capacity is a RATING not a Challenge

The MOV’s that protect our equipment wear out gradually over time and continual use, yet continue to function in their capacity ... why not fuses

They are both in the AC protection business and function in a similar fashion up to their “Maximum Ratings”

I suspect the difference is Fuses have a much long Half Life than MOV’s do ... similar to the giant stars burning out much faster than the smaller ones

Hot one today ha

The life of incadessent light bulbs is a very well understood function. It is the applied voltage to the fifth power. At any given voltage level you can have a very bright light which burns out quickly,or a dim light that lasts a long time.

Did you ever notice the behavior of the red lights at railroad crossings. They run those standard 115 volt bulbs at 90 volts, and, even with many ON/OFF cycles, can expect a life of 100 years. Bulbs made for EXIT signs are also made to last a long time. The landing light bulb in a Piper Cherokee plane is good for less than 100 hours, and the damn things cost about $40 :-(

Due to the environmental concern for properly disposing of these "fatigued" fuses I volunteer to collect them from you and place them somewhere they cannot adversely affect YOUR equipment.

It somehow does not surprise me one bit, that some missed the point of the post. No one stated that old fuses would FAIL, but simply would have an effect on the performance of the equipment(not sound as good as fresh ones). Can't say as I've heard any degradation, in the years I've been using HI-FI Tuning's products, but- I haven't tried new ones, compared to old, either. Probably won't!

I use neodymium magnets instead of fuses...thru-out. Have not witnessed the least amount of magnetic down hill slide.

Tom

We tend to think of fuses in an almost binary sense, ie the circuit is closed or open depending on fuse state.

But fuses are resistive devices designed to essentially "burn out" at the right time. Heat is generated to various extents at all times by design to accomplish that goal as a result of resistance designed into the fuse . I suppose its very possible the heat alters the composition and electrical conductivity characteristics of the fuse element prior to "blowing" in a manner that might effect the sound as a result in changes in electrical properties at some point perhaps compared to "new".

I'd be willing to bet that this is perhaps a reason why some hear a difference when replacing an old fuse with a new one, especially an "audiophile" type fuse where one is perhaps tuned in and listening for a difference by design when making the change. Better electrical contacts at the fuse holder as a result of the replacement operation is likely another at least as significant as anything else. Some report "Better sound" replacing a fuse with even a fresh conventional fuse compared to some fancy fuses.

It's all about as clear as mud but this makes as much sense to me as any other theory or reason why different fuses might sound different.

Replace all components the moment they are fully broken in, because after that point, degradation is surely occurring.
Knowing this you will never be able to just enjoy listening to music.
Jeeze, Louise...

Another fuse thread, oh no.

I do not suggest that this manufacturer is correct, however fuses do wear, depending on how close to their rating they are used. Typical fast blow fuses are spec'd to carry the full current rating continuously (well almost, for more than 1 hr), and burn at 2x the current rating in about 120 seconds. If you operate a 1 amp fuse at 1 amp current for, say 30 min, you will notice the element deforming as it is close to melting. For most common fuses that don't have precious metal fuse links, this deformation occurs at high temperature and will induce oxidation in the fuse link, potentially increasing it's resistance. However, one would think that a manufacturer using gold, Pt, Ir or other PM wire would not see this effect.

And of course, to see this effect the fuse needs to run close to its rating, or even above routinely. For conservatively designed equipment running well below the fuse ratings, I doubt if the fuse "wear" would be descernable.

A common application where fuse wear is really noticable is in many older German cars (BMW, VW, Mercedes) where those open construction ceramic "bullet" fuses were common. After many years, you will see twisted and distorted elements, even though the fuse has not "blown".

Thanks for all of your responses. I plan on keeping these fuses in my amps for as long as they function. The note on their card does make me wonder how many customers do actually replace every 6 to 12 months though.

I wouldn't bother changing upgraded fuses.

Think of it this way.

However much they "might" degrade overtime, they will still be sounding better than a stock fuse that "might" be degrading over the same period of time time.

The emphasis on "might".

Until some misadventure or faulty component trips the fuse and it blows, I wouldn't bother changing them.

Is this a paradigm shift?
We now have something that doesn't sound better after a break in period?

I prefer to think my Supremes are sounding better with age.

Fuses...I worked for a well-known electronics retailer years ago. Guys would come in and say, "Hey dude, my receiver keeps blowin' fuses, should I put in a bigger fuse?" Naah, just stick a penny in there instead. I guess for high-end stuff, you should use a .9999 fine gold bullion coin.

Old 6eyes, my take is that you no longer are employed with the well known electronics retailer?

Perhaps you should have suggested that the " guys" invest in better electronics that won't blow fuses, and perhaps you would still be working for that well known electronics retailer.

I did that Lacee. I recommended stuff we sold, of course. I didn't tell them to bypass the fuse either. You know, I could have sold them fancy fuses too, but we didn't have them then.

I should have put a /sarc tag on that post, I guess.

No problem pardner.

Sounds like a ripoff to me Dude!!

I change my audio fuses and headlight fluid in our cars at the same interval i.e. every 12 months.

07-08-12: Audiofeil
"I change my audio fuses and headlight fluid in our cars at the same interval i.e. every 12 months."

I hope you don't forget to lubricate your muffler bearings while you're at it.