Projects Better fusible link replacement ?

And that's why I'm looking for a better answer.

 

Other than fusing the alternator with a marine fuse block (MRBF) because the batteries are in the rear, I've used nothing but manual reset marine breakers in my car since the late 80's. No carrying spares, no changing fuses, just check the panel for the tripped circuit, find the problem, fix it and reset the breaker. I have three 8 ga. leads with 50 amp mains that feed to the sub circuits with their individual breakers.

Works for me.

 

One upside of fusing the alternator circuit is that it has a chance of saving the alternator if someone connects the battery (or jumper cables) reversed. Yes, I know, it shouldn't happen, we all are smarter than that, but it still does for some reason.

 

Not necessarily. If it shorts internally and the short isn't to ground, it can cause a heavy load on the charge wire, and all the way to the battery. Depending on how fast the wire might melt it could even do damage to the battery also.

 

Regardless of where the battery is located, you don't need the charge wire to go directly to the battery. It can either go to the starter if the starter has a solenoid mounted on it, or to wherever the closest solenoid or device that's connected by a battery cable to the battery. Running it all the way to the battery just creates a longer charge wire with more chance of being shorted accidentally.