Are Chinese fuses safe?

[SoundOfSound]

I only use fuses made in Mongolia. The dude at the BBQ place has them and will cut you a good price if you get the Hot Pot.

 

[buglegirl]

For what it's worth, Parts Connexion in Canada, who I have no affiliation with, have the high quality German made HiFi Tuning fuses on closeout. They have the "Classic Gold" series of gold plated/ceramic (instead of glass for improved resonance properties) at $12.50 each (50% off) for the 1 1/4 inch size (6.3 x 32mm size, various amperage ratings) and the Silver Star series on sale (75% off) at $29.98 each. I know, sounds crazy, but they do make an audible improvement. They have a pdf showing tests of various fuses; the HiFi Tuning fuses have less AC and DC resistance and better overall contact due to less corrosion, better materials, etc. Take a gander at it yourself. Hey, if your amps (mine are MC-60's) are in good shape (rebuilt with newer electrolytics, other caps, replaced selenium rectifier, good, strong tubes, etc.), the chances of blowing one of these expensive fuses is minimal so why not splurge a bit. I bought two pairs of the "Classic Gold" and I do hear slight improvement in the sound of the amps. They are on closeout because apparently HiFi Tuning has come out with a "Supreme" series using special solder from Mundorf, and a special 99% silver, 1% 24kt gold mixture for the internal fuse leads which are real expensive. If you don't have any inclination to buy expensive fuses though, stick with a quality brand like Littlefuse. I have heard of issues with some Chinese fuses simply being of poor quality. A popular tube amp manufacturer recently switched to that brand due to sporadic failures of poor quality fuses from China. The Littlefuse brand is consistent in quality according to several sources I spoke to.

And this is how we end up with over hyped , over priced quackery. (Not talking to you tuberadios just making a general observation)

All it takes is a "Boogeyman" (Chinese Anything these days) and hucksters come out in droves to placate the terrified Audiophiles and take their money.

A fuse is a fuse in my world.

Frannie

 

[kaplang]

I will use a 10 cent Chinese fuse anytime. Never had any problems with them and probably never will. $12 or $30 for a fuse!! What a scam. Of course some pay $100+ a foot for speaker wire and inter connects

 

[jwrauch]

Is anything made in China safe ??? Inquiring minds want to know !!!! JOHN

 

[SolderIron]

I use a bamboo back scratcher from China for years. It' been tame/safe enough....

 

[Beatnik]

It would kind of suck if your house burned down because of a fake fuse.

I need one of these, they are all over that site all from China and they all say ti on them, but I'm afraid to buy one because of all this thievery. Can anyone tell me which one is the real deal ?

 

[faber12]

You can also test some or all of them .

Better test them all, just to be sure.

 

[BillWojo]

I'm with faber12 on this one. If they are 2A fuses test them with a 2A load. If they pass than check them with a 4A load. The ones that don't pop are obviously bad. Throw them out.

BillWojo

 

[tuberadios69]

And this is how we end up with over hyped , over priced quackery. (Not talking to you tuberadios just making a general observation)

All it takes is a "Boogeyman" (Chinese Anything these days) and hucksters come out in droves to placate the terrified Audiophiles and take their money.

A fuse is a fuse in my world.

Frannie

Well, I'll go ahead and take your comments personally anyhow. I continue to be amazed how many "audiophiles" refuse to believe their own ears and "vote" with their pocket book and preconceptions instead. The special fuses do make an audible difference and you won't know until you actually try them and listen. There are actually measurements (see the pdf I mentioned) that illustrate differences which may (or may not) account for the audible differences. And, in my "opinion", until you actually do a listening comparison, you really do not have an "opinion". How could you if you haven't tried something?? Seems pretty basic to me but then again I continue to run into folks who howl that speaker cables, interconnects and now fuses couldn't possibly make a difference. Yet these same people usually refuse to sit down and hear a demo when one is offered. I see this at audio shows on a consistent basis. To each his own, I guess. In the meantime, when I can hear an improvement in my system, I consider that a good thing, not a reason to burn the witch down to the ground.

 

[SolderIron]

The important thing is it makes a difference to you. Other people's opinion does not matter.
For that matter, there are "food" I will never try (as I know it is shxt). I don't care what anyone says .

 

[buglegirl]

Well, I'll go ahead and take your comments personally anyhow. I continue to be amazed how many "audiophiles" refuse to believe their own ears and "vote" with their pocket book and preconceptions instead. The special fuses do make an audible difference and you won't know until you actually try them and listen. There are actually measurements (see the pdf I mentioned) that illustrate differences which may (or may not) account for the audible differences. And, in my "opinion", until you actually do a listening comparison, you really do not have an "opinion". How could you if you haven't tried something?? Seems pretty basic to me but then again I continue to run into folks who howl that speaker cables, interconnects and now fuses couldn't possibly make a difference. Yet these same people usually refuse to sit down and hear a demo when one is offered. I see this at audio shows on a consistent basis. To each his own, I guess. In the meantime, when I can hear an improvement in my system, I consider that a good thing, not a reason to burn the witch down to the ground.

My point was more slanted at "Chinese Made" fear mongering which is what this thread is about. Not why some expensive fuse is better sounding which is the direction you started taking it.

Frannie

 

[battradio]

Well, I'll go ahead and take your comments personally anyhow. I continue to be amazed how many "audiophiles" refuse to believe their own ears and "vote" with their pocket book and preconceptions instead. The special fuses do make an audible difference and you won't know until you actually try them and listen. There are actually measurements (see the pdf I mentioned) that illustrate differences which may (or may not) account for the audible differences. And, in my "opinion", until you actually do a listening comparison, you really do not have an "opinion". How could you if you haven't tried something?? Seems pretty basic to me but then again I continue to run into folks who howl that speaker cables, interconnects and now fuses couldn't possibly make a difference. Yet these same people usually refuse to sit down and hear a demo when one is offered. I see this at audio shows on a consistent basis. To each his own, I guess. In the meantime, when I can hear an improvement in my system, I consider that a good thing, not a reason to burn the witch down to the ground.

If i have an amp with out a fuse holder or fuse ,and add a chinese fuse holder and fuse , and the amp sounds the same both ways i don't believe a , $10 or more fuse will make any difference unless it is a Slo Blow fuse then the higher impedance will make a difference if the power supply in the amp is deficient .

I know interconnects and speakers cables can make a difference in the way an amp can sound , but most of the time it is because of the high capacitance of the cable and can hear the the roll off of the interconnect or it can cause a ground loop , Seen many a fancy output cable cause an amp to oscillate which could be seen on a scope , when a number 12 or 14 gauge wire doesn't .

I believe in gold plated connectors and good connections , keeping RF signals out of the AC supply , different capacitors do sound different and they can be measured . Film and foil caps have the leads soldered to the foil , metalized caps are spot welded or worse crimped to the form the connection and tend to act non-linear in the circuit .

Also some things sound better too some people ,it is all a matter of taste . But i like to know why it sounds good to me no matter what the cost .

I have been to several CES shows , and many high end audio ( Listening Rooms ) showrooms , and have listened to all sorts of claims and products .

 

[ggizzy]

For what they are and their purpose in protecting electrical components, it is ashame that we are not producing them over here. I hate having to spend $2/fuse for slo blo fuses. It's a friggin piece of wire. The cost should be much less than what it is, especially considering the advances in manufacturing since the advent of electricity.

In regards to this chinese "spookism"- having spent a number of years in the US Navy as an AE working on various aircraft from various decades, I can tell you that there is a legitimate concern with Chinese made parts and their lack of vetting at the control level. I don't have particular experience with fuses but we used to get emails and technical bulletins on the boat- very frequently regarding chinese manufactured components or subsytems. The QA is simply not there. Or if they're the only provider of the component, they have no reason to improve QA. Go pound sand.

That being said, I wouldn't pay $10 for a fuse and I agree with the audiophoolery/snake oil assesment of these "premium" fuses. And I still buy chinese fuses for my gear. Because, what are you going to do?

 

[c.coyle]

I wouldn't buy any fuse with an unknown provenance. It's a safety device first and foremost, and if it doesn't blow at the right moment, people, places, and things could be harmed. Country of origin is irrelevant. If I buy Bussman or Littelfuse, I can look at a datasheet that tells me, at the least, overcurrent percentage vs. blow time.

Expensive boutique fuses don't publish datasheets, and one has no idea who stands behind them. Isn't it funny that people who tout expensive boutique fuses of unknown origin are usually those with the most expensive equipment to protect?

 

[c.coyle]

If you were going to cheat and cheepen a fuse you would use less metal and it would blow sooner than , it was supposed too , so i would have any concerns for safety .

This is an interesting point. If I am selling expensive boutique fuses, I might want them to blow sooner, so I can sell more.

 

[buglegirl]

If i have an amp with out a fuse holder or fuse ,and add a chinese fuse holder and fuse , and the amp sounds the same both ways i don't believe a , $10 or more fuse will make any difference unless it is a Slo Blow fuse then the higher impedance will make a difference if the power supply in the amp is deficient .

I know interconnects and speakers cables can make a difference in the way an amp can sound , but most of the time it is because of the high capacitance of the cable and can hear the the roll off of the interconnect or it can cause a ground loop , Seen many a fancy output cable cause an amp to oscillate which could be seen on a scope , when a number 12 or 14 gauge wire doesn't .

I believe in gold plated connectors and good connections , keeping RF signals out of the AC supply , different capacitors do sound different and they can be measured . Film and foil caps have the leads soldered to the foil , metalized caps are spot welded or worse crimped to the form the connection and tend to act non-linear in the circuit .

Also some things sound better too some people ,it is all a matter of taste . But i like to know why it sounds good to me no matter what the cost .

I have been to several CES shows , and many high end audio ( Listening Rooms ) showrooms , and have listened to all sorts of claims and products .

I have no issue with someone buying a "Boutique" fuse and if it makes the sound better great.

What bothers me is the "I Bought Such And Such Fuse And Yours Suck" type of posts.

And generalizing and slamming a whole country of manufacture to win the my stuff is better than yours debate is snobbery.

Again I am NOT saying this is what "tuberadios" was doing. Just that many a thread has started like this one and devolved into a mess. And yes I am the pot calling the kettle black.

For the record I am in the camp that no matter what it is , where its made , what its made of , new or old , ugly or pretty etc ... If a person likes the way it sounds. It is NO ONES place to dispute it.

Another point is that I am a cheap person and would not drop 60 dollars on a fuse to hope for an improvement. But more power to anyone who can. I am neither jealous nor offended. Rock on.

There are many ways to get from A to Z.

If you want to drive a Ferrari to pick up milk or a Pinto no matter to me.

Frannie

 

[chuckworkb]

The Littlefuse brand is consistent in quality according to several sources I spoke to.

I agree, they have been around for years, and are a safe bet in any gear.

 

[battradio]

My point is that anyone can buy what they want but i will spend my money on what is practical and know why it works . FOR ME!

When you repair something , you may repair the obvious and have multiple problem , so a cheap fuse is nice , 10 cents a try is much better than $1 or more . On a service call a Buss or Littelfuse is prudent , i would hate to go back for 90 cents of savings .
I have used many hundreds of taiwanese , chinese , japanese and never had a failure of them fuse to blow when it should , the biggest problem is someone using too large a fuse .

I have seen many a fuse fail because the metal ends have came unglued , buss , littelfuse and german made among others . The last 20 years a good portion of Buss and Littlefuse have been made in Mexico .

 

[baretta]

My point was more slanted at "Chinese Made" fear mongering which is what this thread is about. Not why some expensive fuse is better sounding which is the direction you started taking it.

Frannie

It's not fear mongering. I have a really good Marshall amp that I replaced a fuse in. And I'd like the new one to blow if it has to. As opposed to not blowing and maybe taking out a transformer or some other crucial circuits. The Chinese are some of the biggest counterfeiters in the world. I'm not knocking them. It just happens to be the truth.

 

[Retrovert]

If you were going to cheat and cheepen a fuse you would use less metal and it would blow sooner than , it was supposed too , so i would have any concerns for safety .

Ok. Label that Scenario One.

Here's Scenario Two. Suppose you were going to really cheat and use bits of ordinary steel wire from your scrap pile instead of copper and have no idea at what point they'd blow and cared even less.

Scenario Three. You cheat even more and make slow-blows into never-blows by not worry about special construction, just use a wire as in Scenario Two.

Scenario Four: You cheat even more and make ceramics, which are rated to not arc, such that they are not filled with an inert filler and will arc. Oh, the profit rolls in!

My point is to not trust that someone will make a component fail in exactly the right way. Particularly when it has a fake U/L stamp on it.