A Flashback to a Hot Summer (Better Late Than Never)
It is currently freezing cold outside. My hands are numb just typing this. However, looking at these photos brings back the sweaty nightmare from a past summer.
Yes, this incident happened quite a while ago during the peak of a heatwave.
I was too busy sweating to post it then, and then… well, I procrastinated for a long time. But hey, winter is the best season to talk about summer maintenance, right?
I own a small electric walkie stacker (forklift). It’s an old Korean model (Soosung SWC-1000L), and while I don’t use it daily, it is an absolute lifesaver when I need to move heavy equipment around my workshop.
The Incident
Ideally, machines should work when you need them. But reality often has other plans.
On that scorching summer day, I needed to move a heavy load. I turned the key… and nothing happened. No lights, no click, just dead silence.
Since it was an emergency, I couldn’t afford to troubleshoot it right there. I ended up moving everything manually with my son. We were drenched in sweat, cursing the machine the whole time. It was a miserable experience.
Once the work was done (and I had cooled down), I opened the cover to find the culprit. It didn’t take long.
The Culprit: Cheap Plastic “Glass Tube” Fuse Holder
The problem wasn’t the expensive motor, the controller, or the battery. It was this tiny, insignificant part: The Fuse Holder.
As you can see, the white plastic housing had simply crumbled and cracked.
The fuse itself was fine! But because the holder fell apart, it lost contact, cutting off all power to the key switch.
- The Issue: These cheap, screw-type glass tube fuse holders are notorious. The plastic degrades over time, becoming brittle and turning into dust at the slightest vibration or touch.
- The Frustration: A $0.50 part caused a complete shutdown of a heavy-duty machine.
The Upgrade: Automotive Blade Fuse Holder
I refuse to replace junk with the same junk. I decided to banish the glass tube fuse forever.
Since this forklift runs on a DC 24V system, an Automotive Blade Fuse Holder (ATO/ATC) is the perfect upgrade.
Why upgrade?
- Durability: The rubber/PVC body is vibration-resistant and won’t crack.
- Reliability: Blade fuses have better contact surface area.
- Availability: You can buy these fuses at any auto parts store or local hardware store.
The Fix: Step-by-Step
The repair is incredibly simple, but satisfying.
- Cut the wires leading to the old, crumbled holder.
- Strip the wire ends.
- Connect the new Automotive Fuse Holder (Soldering or Crimp Connectors).
- Insert a 10A Blade Fuse (matching the original spec).
I secured the new holder with cable ties so it wouldn’t dangle around. It’s a small change, but the peace of mind is massive. I know for a fact this part won’t fail me again.
For those who prefer a visual guide, here is the complete replacement process captured on video.
If you have any old equipment using these white plastic glass fuse holders, do yourself a favor and replace them now—before they fail you on the hottest (or coldest) day of the year.
