Fuse Color Code
On blade fuses the body colour indicates the ampere rating: tan 5 A, brown 7.5 A, red 10 A, blue 15 A, yellow 20 A, clear 25 A, green 30 A, orange 40 A. At low ratings black 1 A, grey 2 A, violet 3 A and pink 4 A are used. The colour allows a quick check without opening the box.
The colour code was developed for fast, error-free replacement in vehicles where the fuse box holds dozens of items. The rating is also printed on the body as a number; the colour is a second layer of verification that can be read from a distance and in dim light.
- When replacing: same colour and same number. If you do not have the correct rating to hand, fitting a larger fuse temporarily leaves the cable it protects defenceless.
- Box diagram: the cover of a vehicle's fuse box states which circuit has which rating; label the circuits you add after installation with the same logic.
- Spares: keep one spare of each rating you use in vehicle-mounted installations.
When connecting an AXI remote control or driver to an existing vehicle harness, keep your own fuse in a separate holder and record its rating both on the body and on the wiring diagram. That way, when another technician examines the circuit later, they do not have to guess which protection feeds which line.
Context in which this term is used: Installation, redundancy and field continuity