Early style fuse box, blower fuse keeps melting, not tripping

Per title, I have the early style fuse box with the "ceramic" style fuses, that are actually plastic. Fuse number 10, the blower is rated for 16amps. I fit a 16 amp fuse, but it keeps getting hot and melting - the fuse wore doesn't break, it often remains in place while the plastic fuse melts and falls out!

I've run it with a multimeter, it's constantly running at 12-13 amps, do not excessive. Any ideas why it would get hot  and melt the fuse, without exceeding the fuses rating?

Thanks in advance!

I'd check the fan/motor spins freely and all connections to the switch in the dash and the big resistor beside the fan/motor are all clean and tight.

13amp at 12v is 156w so like best part of 3x60w oldschool filament bulbs, thats some heat, you wouldn't want to touch them….

Early-1800 said

I'd check the fan/motor spins freely and all connections to the switch in the dash and the big resistor beside the fan/motor are all clean and tight.

13amp at 12v is 156w so like best part of 3x60w oldschool filament bulbs, thats some heat, you wouldn't want to touch them….

Thanks for the reply. Is 13 amp too high then? What should it use?

I noticed the motor did squeak a bit but only after being on for about ten minutes. Will see if it needs oiling.

Large resistor by the fan looks okay, is it the large cylinder with three wires, or am I looking at the wrong one?

Fans that are squeaky usually need rebuilding of the bushes, that is they need to be cleaned and oiled, a motor that spin rough can cause a over current as they are trying to get to speed and can't.

You wouldn't want to under fuse or over fuse, under they will blow really really fast.  Over and they can cause melted connections or burned wires.  

I have only over fused a wired back plane in the early 80's I had a fuse that was blowing an the circuit was one that measured shorted, but I couldn't find it.  So I over fused it by 5 amps, and well I found the trace that went to about 25 different cards, I found the Wire finally and the board.  Only took about 2 hours with Tiger wire and a wrapping tool.    

With that said, I would also look at the fuse panel, see that the said fuse holder is clean, and I would look at your grounds from Battery to Frame to Engine/Tranny are clean with less than .5 Volt drop, and in my experience with these, just replace them with a new one-piece unit, or 2 off the shelf cables.

If after replacing the Cables and tuning up the motor, If it still blows I would check your resistor pack, or replace the motor.

Briano1234 said

Fans that are squeaky usually need rebuilding of the bushes, that is they need to be cleaned and oiled, a motor that spin rough can cause a over current as they are trying to get to speed and can't.

You wouldn't want to under fuse or over fuse, under they will blow really really fast.  Over and they can cause melted connections or burned wires.  

I have only over fused a wired back plane in the early 80's I had a fuse that was blowing an the circuit was one that measured shorted, but I couldn't find it.  So I over fused it by 5 amps, and well I found the trace that went to about 25 different cards, I found the Wire finally and the board.  Only took about 2 hours with Tiger wire and a wrapping tool.    

With that said, I would also look at the fuse panel, see that the said fuse holder is clean, and I would look at your grounds from Battery to Frame to Engine/Tranny are clean with less than .5 Volt drop, and in my experience with these, just replace them with a new one-piece unit, or 2 off the shelf cables.

If after replacing the Cables and tuning up the motor, If it still blows I would check your resistor pack, or replace the motor.

Thanks for the reply - will try that out and see if the wire is showing its age or not!