EX330 Multimeter 10A Replacement Fuse?

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unrented_cloak
 
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EX330 Multimeter 10A Replacement Fuse?

Post by unrented_cloak »

Newbie with electronics projects. Just bought an Extech EX330 Multimeter. I tried to measure the current of a circuit and had no idea how many amps it would draw. Turns out its more than 10A. I only discovered this because the fuse on my multimeter blew. "No biggie - I'll just get a new fuse", I thought. Turns out finding this specific type of fuse is tricky. Amazon, E-Bay, digi-key. No one had it.

The manual suggests this as a replacement:EX330 Multimeter 10A Fuse?

* 5mm x 20mm
* Fast Blow
* 10 A / 600VAC

The markings on actual fuse:
ASTM
HV510
10A
600VAC

It looks like a ceramic fuse (the case is white and has a smooth texture, like an unglazed dinner plate)

The only ones I could find are rated at:
10A / 250V
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/det ... 014/639719
and
10A / 425V
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/det ... R/13557847

The ones rated at 600V are slow blow:
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/det ... BE/7404462

Thoughts on where I can find a compatible fuse?

Thank You!

PS. Avoid my mistake, if you want to measure currents larger than 10A with a multimeter, use a DC Shunt in series with your circuit, measure the voltage across the shunt, use Ohms law to calculate the current.

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Re: EX330 Multimeter 10A Replacement Fuse?

Post by adafruit_support_bill »


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Re: EX330 Multimeter 10A Replacement Fuse?

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

Ooops! Right parameters - but too big.

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Re: EX330 Multimeter 10A Replacement Fuse?

Post by unrented_cloak »

Is there any harm in using a lower rated fuse? 10A / 250V seems really common or one with a glass case instead of a ceramic case?

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Re: EX330 Multimeter 10A Replacement Fuse?

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

Interesting . . . I have an EX330 here, so I opened it up and the fuse is marked 10A 250V.

That is what is marked on the PCB also. Of course, mine is > 10 years old. They may have changed the design:
Attachments
Ex330 10A Fuse.jpg
Ex330 10A Fuse.jpg (491.3 KiB) Viewed 2409 times

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Re: EX330 Multimeter 10A Replacement Fuse?

Post by unrented_cloak »

Strange. I just bought mine a week ago from adafruit.
manual_8x6.jpg
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cover_8x6.jpg (100.1 KiB) Viewed 2408 times
board_8x6.jpg
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unrented_cloak
 
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Re: EX330 Multimeter 10A Replacement Fuse?

Post by unrented_cloak »

Pics of the fuse that came with the meter.
fuse2_8x6.jpg
fuse2_8x6.jpg (36.69 KiB) Viewed 2405 times
fuse1_8x6.jpg
fuse1_8x6.jpg (33.56 KiB) Viewed 2405 times

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Re: EX330 Multimeter 10A Replacement Fuse?

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

The manual for mine is long gone. But the back panel looks identical to yours - except it says 250V instead of 600V.
However, 600V would be more consistent with the labeling on the front panel. Mine sees mostly low-voltage use. I will try to keep it that way.

Unfortunately, I don't see any sources for a 10A/600V fast-blow in the 5x20mm size.

In the short-term, you could safely go with a lower current rating - and just avoid directly measuring anything higher than that. At least if it fails, it fails 'safe'.

Cheating on the voltage rating however is not fail-safe. The voltage rating on the fuse comes into play once the fuse blows. The fuse must be designed so that once blown, there is no chance of the rated voltage arcing through the body of the fuse to re-energize the circuit.

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Re: EX330 Multimeter 10A Replacement Fuse?

Post by unrented_cloak »

Do you have a fuse you can recommend in that case?

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Re: EX330 Multimeter 10A Replacement Fuse?

Post by Franklin97355 »

According to https://flir.BANNED/app/answers/d ... /related/1 there is this:
Banned should be custhelp(dot)com
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Screenshot from 2023-06-07 13-41-11.png
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Re: EX330 Multimeter 10A Replacement Fuse?

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

Not finding anything at Mouser or Digi. I did find the exact 10A/600V replacement here:
https://www.BANNED.com/p/hv51010-multim ... cs-1499830

The manufacturer site for that fuse is here: https://astml.com/product/hv510-600vac-200ma-20a-3
They have a cross-reference page too, but do not show any equivalent parts for the HV510.10 from other manufacturers.

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Re: EX330 Multimeter 10A Replacement Fuse?

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

Sorry about the forum spam filtering. In the above link, please replace the "BANNED" with 'con' followed by 'rad'.

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Re: EX330 Multimeter 10A Replacement Fuse?

Post by unrented_cloak »

Unfortunately, Co n ra d doesn't ship to the states!

I'll reach out to Flir customer support to see what they recommend. I saw the replacement fuse list Franklin97355 posted but why is Flir suggesting a 10A/250V fuse when the meter came with an impossible to replace 600V fuse?

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Re: EX330 Multimeter 10A Replacement Fuse?

Post by adafruit_support_mike »

Not to put too fine a point on it: profit.. mostly aimed at corporations though.

Unobtanium fuses make it hard to keep devices in manufacturer spec in-house, and encourage companies that care about staying in spec to sign up for the manufacturer's maintenance/service/calibration plans.

In a factory that has 100 multimeters, and needs to assume readings from all of them are interchangeable, maintaining spec and keeping track of calibration histories is a big deal. Companies will pay far more than the original cost of the meter to avoid "Joe's meter says X but Sue's meter says Y" problems.. especially if Joe and Sue have been sent out on separate service calls. And if they have to send a meter back for fuse replacement anyway, they'll check to see if it's due for factory calibration and adjustment while it's there.

Using a 250V fuse won't hurt the meter, all you'll lose is some high-voltage use and the ability to say you have it in factory spec. That usually isn't important for a personal-use meter, so don't worry about it too much.

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