This video documents an attempt to destroy a very large 6,000 amp rated fuse using a substantial bank of 400 car batteries capable of delivering over 150,000 amps continuously. The creator first tests smaller fuses (500A and 1000A) to gauge the expected failure mode. The smaller, sand-filled fuses fail with little fanfare, though one 1000A test, refilled with indium metal, results in significant magnetic deformation and subsequent explosion, ejecting liquefied metal. The main event, popping the 6000A fuse, initially fails not by destroying the fuse element itself, but by melting the contact block and ripping away the clamp due to excessive current flow (peaking around 130,000A). After switching to more robust spring clamps, the second attempt successfully blows the massive fuse with a violent plasma jet when the battery bank pulls 150,000 amps. The creator notes they refilled the final fuse with sodium for a subsequent video. The entire exercise seems mostly motivated by beating a record set by another creator ("Photonic Induction").
Attempting to Pop a 6,000 Amp Fuse: A Study in Current Limits
0:00 Previous Record: Mentions "Photonic Induction" popping a 5,000 amp fuse; the goal is to exceed this with a 6,000 amp fuse.
0:00 Test Setup: Using a bank of 400 car batteries capable of delivering over 150,000 continuous amps, rather than capacitors. The 6000A fuse weighs 45 lbs and has a 200,000 amp interruption rating.
0:53 Initial Tests (Small Fuses): The 500A fuse, filled with sand, breaks the circuit boringly as intended.
1:34 1000A Fuse Test: Refilled with indium metal instead of sand. The test results in magnetic distortion bending the tabs before the fuse could blow cleanly.
2:38 Second 1000A Test: Increased cable thickness leads to a massive explosion, ejecting all the indium. Peak current reached 130,000 amps.
3:50 6,000 Amp Fuse (First Attempt): The theoretical current required to pop the 6000A fuse in milliseconds is high (e.g., 100,000A for 10ms). The first attempt fails catastrophically at the connection points: the fuse element remains intact, but the contact block melts, ripping off a C-clamp.
7:14 6,000 Amp Fuse (Second Attempt): Swapped standard clamps for spring clamps to better accommodate contact erosion.
7:45 Success: The second attempt pops the fuse violently, vaporizing the internal elements. The switch briefly hiccuped, but the fuse pulled 150,000 amps, resulting in an impressive plasma jet.
8:20 Future Tease: The final fuse was refilled with metallic sodium for a follow-up video.
8:32 Acknowledgements: Credits "Anyesk" for supplying the batteries and the car battery concept. I don't care much for such stunts, but the resulting current draw is interesting physics.