Need fuses for Multimeter

oldschool · 2018-01-30T20:56:19+00:00

I have a GB Instruments multimeter (GMT -19A). I've had this meter for years and it's always worked fine. It came with 2 fuses. One was installed in the fuse holder inside by the batteries. The other is a spare fuse which was in a plastic clip on the other side of the batteries, and meant to be a spare. The fuses are 7/8 inch long and are supposed to be SFE 0.5 amp / 250V. I have gone to several hardware stores, an automotive parts store, and a home improvement center. No one carries this amperage fuse, at least not in that length (SFE). I thought I'd use a 1 amp if nothing else, but I cant even find those. For now, I found a 9 amp that fits, and am using that, but I know that is not going to protect the meter. I dont buy much online, and only use Ebay when I do. I thought Ebay surely would have them, but I was wrong. Ebay has SFE fuses, but only in larger amp sizes. Seems 7.5 amp and higher are common. (I searched ebay using these words "sfe 1 amp fuse" ) * Now I know why I miss Radio Shack, they usually had stuff like this. Does anyone know where I might find these fuses? (Even a 1 amp size). No, I am NOT willing to go to one of those places that have a large minimum order, or charge $10 or more to ship a small item like this. After all, multimeters like this only cost around $25. One thing I did find, is at a local hardware store they do have a few boxes of AGA 1 amp. Those are a little short though, but I was wondering about slipping a tiny piece of copper tubing over one end.... Without having one of them in front of me, I am not sure what the actual length is for a AGA type. But a website lists them as 5/8" so I assume that's correct. I also learned that the AG means "ALL GLASS". [ I do wonder if I might still find these using other wording, on ebay. I really would expect Ebay to have this... ] But what wording???

Jan 30, 2018 23 Replies

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Brian Gregory 8 years ago

WTF does SFE mean??

Brian Gregory (in England).

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Ralph Mowery 8 years ago

Society of Fuse Engineers

North-American built automobiles up to 1981 had electrical systems protected by cylindrical glass cartridge fuses rated 32 volts DC and current ratings from 4 amperes to 30 amperes. These are known as "SFE" fuses, as they were designed by the Society of Fuse Engineers to prevent the insertion of a grossly inadequate or unsafe fuse into the vehicle's fuse panel.[3][4] These SFE fuses all have a ?1/4 inch diameter, and the length varies according to the rating of the fuse.

A 4 amp SFE 4 fuse is ?5/8 inch long (the same dimension as an AGA fuse of any rating), a 6 amp SFE 6 fuse is ?3/4 inch long, a 7.5 amp SFE 7.5 fuse is ?7/8 inch long (same as an AGW fuse of any rating), a 9 amp SFE 9 fuse is ?7/8 inch long (same as an AGW fuse of any rating), a 14 amp SFE 14 fuse is 1?1/16 inch long, a 20 amp SFE 20 fuse is 1?1/4 inch long (same as an AGC fuse of any rating), and a 30 amp SFE 30 fuse is 1?7/16 inches long.[3]

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Brian Gregory 8 years ago

Definitely very sub-standard for this application then.

Brian Gregory (in England).

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Badbob 8 years ago

Consider Amazon. I used them to find a rare car fuse not found locally. Because they have everything I always find stuff to make up an order for free shipping.

Bob

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