Q: Any good sources for fuses with ceramic bodies vs plastic ? Options

[914rrr]

I'm having a tough time finding old school ceramic bodied fuses for my teener. I'm seeing NLA / out of stock a lot lately.

[wonkipop]

I'm having a tough time finding old school ceramic bodied fuses for my teener. I'm seeing NLA / out of stock a lot lately.

managed to get a small mixed pack from a guy in sydney about 4-5 years ago.
he probably found them on the shelf somewhere someplace?
when i was looking back then, think it was during covid, i remember they were pretty much not available anywhere.

if you keep searching you might turn up a seller with some very old stock and nab some.

[NARP74]

I think JBugs has them. Bought some a while ago, still looking for the vendor. They were used in lots of old German cars by Porsche, VW, Mercedes.

[DennisV]

I'm having a tough time finding old school ceramic bodied fuses for my teener. I'm seeing NLA / out of stock a lot lately.

Have you tried Centerline Alfa? I would verify, but they say they're ceramic.

[burton73]

Jbugs got them

Best Bob B

[wonkipop]

Jbugs got them

Best Bob B

if you look closely at J bugs - description says "ceramic style" photos are of the thermoplastic ones.

the ceramic are no longer manufactured anywhere by anyone to the best of my info.
searching for NOS stock is about all you can do if you must have ceramic.

having said that there is thermoplastic and there is thermoplastic.
mercedessource (usa based) is a merc specialist who knows his stuff.
he sells a fuse kit on line to his customers.
i'd probably trust his stock of the new types of plastic fuses rather than any old ebay seller.
likely he has worked out the best of what is now available.

[Shivers]

If they look the same, maybe swap the new metal on to your old ceramic bodies.

[Artfrombama]

One thing good about the plastic fuses, if there is some resistance in the fuse or fuse holder the plastic will melt and the fuse will fall out.
This has happened to me twice.
Now, lets talk about brass fuse conductors as opposed to the corrosive-prone aluminum.

[wonkipop]

One thing good about the plastic fuses, if there is some resistance in the fuse or fuse holder the plastic will melt and the fuse will fall out.
This has happened to me twice.
Now, lets talk about brass fuse conductors as opposed to the corrosive-prone aluminum.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) yeah thats the new concern.
apparently all the new batches of these are aluminium now.

relieved i picked up the brass ones i got hold back at the start of decade.
it seems even these are getting hard to find in the plastic variant but with brass conductors.

i can even remember the ones i used to get for the variant were tin i believe.

i'm remembering where i got mine now. it was off a merc nerd in sydney who was advertising the fuses. he had only a few sets remaining and was rationing them to buyers. i had to look pretty hard high and low even 5 years ago to get some proper ones.

i think the merc restorers are fastidious about these fuses. could be they are the best place to look for them. not sure VW mass parts retailers are a good place to look, a lot of them peddle stuff that is not as top shelf.

another one of those things, like good quality points that are disappearing or have disappeared. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

the only other place i can think of is junk yards. with old cars. there might still be some of the real old school ceramic fuses hanging around under the dashboards if you are lucky. and they might still be in ok condition....its a big "might". but its going to have to be a junkyard with old cars in it.

[914rrr]

One source I'm pursuing is VW Bug & Bus shows and associated swap meets.

In the past, I've had exceptional luck finding NOS and used teener bits, FI parts, tins, etc. including NOS fuses and especially larger diameter woven hoses at VW Shows. I once bought an entire tub full of 7-12mm hose spools for $20 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I did have a big stash of NOS fuses I bought years ago, and like a dummy, I sold them during a move. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

[DennisV]

One thing good about the plastic fuses, if there is some resistance in the fuse or fuse holder the plastic will melt and the fuse will fall out.
This has happened to me twice.

A very entertaining 914-related article on melting fuses.
Of Mice and Machines: Porsche Fuses, Death Traps, and Imagination Gone Awry

[NARP74]

I think this is where I got mine last time.
https://www.mofoco.com/category/Ceramic_Fuses/c111

[NARP74]

This solves the problem;
https://www.restoration-design.com/store/product/RD-914.FP

[Artfrombama]

One thing good about the plastic fuses, if there is some resistance in the fuse or fuse holder the plastic will melt and the fuse will fall out.
This has happened to me twice.

A very entertaining 914-related article on melting fuses.
Of Mice and Machines: Porsche Fuses, Death Traps, and Imagination Gone Awry

This solves the problem;
https://www.restoration-design.com/store/product/RD-914.FP

Yes, I'm one "side of the road breakdown" away from sending my $300. to the Canadian guys. I too have the same fan motor problem that pulls too many amps on high, now that I know this I avoid the high setting.

[DennisV]

One source I'm pursuing is VW Bug & Bus shows and associated swap meets.

Aase responded to me via email today: these are ceramic like original

[wonkipop]

@NARP74 mofoco (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) might have to send off for those from down here.
i wouldn't mind looking into getting some spare blueys. will have to investigate their stock further to see if anything besides the reds. could only get red and whites here in aus 5 years back.
NARP prices for genuine NARP product. 60c each. when VW meant VW?
love the company name for that mob. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

@DennisV think i might have to leave aase brothers for the its a real porsche crowd.
$28 per fuse = real porsche prices. i am a VW man. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

think i paid around $3.00 AUD per fuse for the real stuff. and i blinked. but paid.
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EDIT. dug deeper into mofoco site. looks like the reddys is all they have.
still for you guys over there its worth picking up a handful of those while you can still get them. will just have to stay on the look out for some old stock blueys.

[914rrr]

One source I'm pursuing is VW Bug & Bus shows and associated swap meets.

Aase responded to me via email today: these are ceramic like original

Is that price correct???!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Seems like the price is off by a digit or 2...

[DennisV]

dug deeper into mofoco site. looks like the reddys is all they have.
still for you guys over there its worth picking up a handful of those while you can still get them. will just have to stay on the look out for some old stock blueys.

Are 16 amp used on 914? I'm looking at the 914-6 owner's manual and all I see listed are 8 amp and 25 amp.

[wonkipop]

dug deeper into mofoco site. looks like the reddys is all they have.
still for you guys over there its worth picking up a handful of those while you can still get them. will just have to stay on the look out for some old stock blueys.

Are 16 amp used on 914? I'm looking at the 914-6 owner's manual and all I see listed are 8 amp and 25 amp.

4s have 2 or 3 reds in the main fusebox. 3 if you have fogs.
at least for a 74 1.8 - imagine others are the same. wipers + stuff and head lights. 16 or 25 in fusebox in engine bay depending on heated window or not.

headlight one is pretty useful to the car.

majority are whites.