Re: What kind of fuse for 16 guage wire?
While fuses protect a run of wire from its source to the device it feeds (bilge pump in this case), there is no need to use a 10 amp fuse if the bilge pump only draws 5 amps for example. In this example a 7.5 amp fuse would be fine. Look at the information that came with the bilge pump and determine its maximum current draw. That same information will typically tell you what fuse to use. Lacking any of that information a 10 amp fuse would be fine. However, if the pump normally drew five amps and debris causes it to stall, then it may burn up before the fuse blew. So you generally want to use a fuse with a rating just a little above the maximum current draw of the device.
