Anyone recognize this fuseholder?

Question

I've got a couple of fuseholders that screw into the back of ATC powered speakers that have acted up, that is, they won't screw in all the way. It's not about fuses blowing, but probably because the aftermarket (audio oriented) fuses I was screwing in were a fraction of an mm too long, and the ATC fuse holding tolerance is not great (these aftermarket fuses go easily into everything else in my system). Now, no fuses will screw in. I've attached a couple of photos. The holder is slotted screwdriver cartridge type, 5x20mm, slow-blow,, presumably 10A (fuse is 5A). I'm not sure exactly how it screws in internally - the holder has no threads - but there is a metal sleeve inside the speaker fuse channel with a slot where the holder flange presumably grabs. Anyone recognize the part or manufacturer? I am in contact with ATC for replacements, but would like to find out where these holders come from, so maybe I won't be dependent on them and their U.S. distributor if it happens again. I didn't find the holder on the U.S. element14 site (Newark), but thought maybe because ATC is a British company, someone might have seen it before (of course it could be sourced from anywhere). Thanks, 
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dougw · Accepted Answer

Take a look at Eaton BK/HTC series maybe BK/HTC-50M BK/HTC-50M

14rhb · Answer

Gene,

I've never seen this type of fuseholder before but from your photo I can see they are a bayonet twist type. If you said the fuse you tried was slightly longer then perhaps you deformed either the lugs on the free holder or the bit within the body. Do they screw together still with no fuse in place? They also appear to be a twist clockwise to secure in place (and anti-clockwise to release). Maybe you need to adjust the lugs with a pair of pliers? Try adjusting a little at a time.

regards,

Rod (UK)

highstream · Answer

The holders Douglas suggested came today and they worked. At first, I got a scare when I put one in without a fuse and, after stopped part way, it went in all the way. Took a paper clip end to get it out. Then I put a fuse in and turned, but while it held firm, it wouldn't go all the way. Then instead of turning at the firm point, I pushed, and it slipped right in and held. Problem solved. Looking back, it's not clear if the problem was the holder or operator error, i.e., turning without pushing at the firm point. Thanks for your help!

highstream · Answer

Depending on what happens with the replacement(s) I get, I plan to let AM know. How far that would get me is another question. The audio shop I ordered it through - fuses were drop shipped from AM - turned out to know about it and deal with it from on their own equipment very recently, but I wouldn't hold them directly responsible. At this point, I'm focused on getting things working. Hopefully, sanding and changing the fuseholders will do it, as I'm leaving the country for a couple of months in two weeks.

highstream · Answer

Thanks for the replies. Douglas, The screw-in holder piece on the Eaton looks the same, so I ordered a couple. Should have them sometime next week. Will report back. Rod, Yes, I'm worried about something inside having been messed up. Would hate to have to get a tech to pull the boards (warranty issue). The bad news is that on the last, umpteenth try to get it to grab, I pushed too hard and the "cage" inside the holder came out with the fuse. I haven't been able to get it back together with the spring sufficiently inside the holder, so am not able to try screwing it in empty. Before doing that, I played with the wings (lugs), but didn't find any magic. The other speaker's fuse holder lost a wing in the process of the first try, and now I have the whole thing wedged in just right to make electrical contact. Better left alone for now, so I have one speaker.

highstream · Answer

The manufacturer is only responsible for the fuses they supply or similar replacements. When I got the speakers, I swapped out the OEM fuses for Synergistic Research Black's, which screwed in fine. The other day I swapped - or tried to swap - out those for Audio Magic Ultimate beeswax ones, and that's when the problem occurred. In closing up after inserting the beeswax, the developer solders the end of the fuse. I hadn't thought about it before this, but that makes it a fraction of a millimeter longer than a standard 5x20 mm. For other audio components with similar type fuseholders, that hasn't been a problem, but it seems that ATC hasn't left room for variance. At least I hope that's the issue. I've sanded the ends of the fuses to bring them down to size, at least comparing visually. The replacement Douglas suggested is due in the mail Monday and hopefully I'll know more about what's behind the problem then.

shabaz · Answer

Hi Gene, If the fuses are damaging your speakers, the fuse manufacturer is liable for the damage to the speakers (if the fuse size is out of tolerance, since fuses come in standard sizes). I'm sure courts would not be pleased to hear how something this critical to safety has such a fault from the manufacturer. (Ideally you don't want to have to go down that path of course - the manufacturer or the supplier ought to resolve it directly by agreeing to pay for the repair). At least in the UK, it would be considered a product liability issue, and under common law (and probably some legislation too) a manufacturer is responsible for the damage caused not just to the fuse itself, but to any other product too. It is likely similar in the US. Some firms have huge departments just to deal with this. For example, paint manufacturers are not just liable for the cost of replacement paint if it flakes off when it shouldn't, but to make good the entire wall (i.e. what the paint was attached to).

shabaz · Answer

Hi Gene, The fuse manufacturer (not ATC) is liable for the fuses and the equipment that they damage, if the fuses are out of tolerance. ATC will not have manufactured the fuseholder and it is not their variance issue; it will be a standard off-the-shelf part, designed to worldwide standards, otherwise they could not sell it in the US and Europe.

Anyone recognize this fuseholder?

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