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ATC VS ATM Fuse: Are They Different Or Similar?
By: Saiful Islam | July 11, 2022
Table of Contents
If you have a car and know its mechanism, you have a clear idea about the fuse. Suppose you don’t know anything about fuses. At least when you face problems with your car or go for repairing, you have heard about your fuses being blown or burnt.
There are more similarities than differences while talking about the ATC VS ATM fuse. Primarily ATM fuse is smaller in size than the ATC fuse. They both are in the automotive blade fuse category to protect electrical wiring in vehicles.
You do not need to have an engineering mastermind to understand the function of fuses. Our detailed comparison and contrast will help you learn about ATC & ATM fuses. Also, you will be able to take action regarding your blown fuse.
ATC VS ATM Fuse In A Table
| ATC Fuse | ATM Fuse |
| Called Standard blade automotive fuse | Known as MINI blade automotive fuse |
| Regular in size | Smaller than regular size |
| Dimension: 19.1 × 5.1 × 18.5 mm | Dimension: 10.9 × 3.6 × 16.3 mm |
| Mostly used in older model vehicles | Common in new & modern vehicles |
| Amperage Rating: 0.5A to 40A | Amperage Rating: 2A to 30A |
| Protects wires from catching fire | Prevents electric overheating |
| Uses zinc alloy fuse material | Uses tin-plated zinc terminals |
| Classified as Fast-Acting fuse | Works as Fast-Acting fuse |
| Can not be used as DC | Usable for different electric products |
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Comparison Between ATC & ATM Blade Fuse
We have already mentioned that ATC and ATM fuse differences are fewer than their similarities. Let’s compare these two automotive fuses first. By comparison, you will learn their use and functions too.
Protection For The Wires
The automotive wire of your vehicle needs protection from fire. ATC and ATM fuses protect the electric wirings from catching on fire due to overheating, short-circuit, overcurrent, and high voltage.
They Made Sacrifices
Both ATC and ATM fuses sacrifice themselves when there is an overflow of current in the wires. They have a conductive metal stripe inside them. This metal piece gets blown or melted when there is overheating or power distribution failure.
Blade Type Fuse
They are called blade fuses because of their construction. They have two blade stripes or prongs to be plugged into a fuse box. The blades are connected with a fuse element metal wire and sealed in a plastic color-coded transparent body or frame.
Color Code
Though both the fuses use Tin-plated zinc terminals and plastic as their materials, they use different colors to indicate different amounts of ampere they hold or their current rating. Below we have presented the color scheme chart with the ampere rating.
| Color Code | Regular (ATC) | MINI (ATM) | Current Rating |
| Orange | Yes | No | 40 A |
| Blue-green | Yes | No | 35 A |
| Green | Yes | Yes | 30 A |
| White | Yes | Yes | 25 A |
| Yellow | Yes | Yes | 20 A |
| Blue | Yes | Yes | 15 A |
| Red | Yes | Yes | 10 A |
| Brown | Yes | Yes | 7.5 A |
| Tan | Yes | Yes | 5 A |
| Pink | Yes | Yes | 4 A |
| Violet | Yes | Yes | 3 A |
| Grey | Yes | Yes | 2 A |
| Black | Yes | NO | 1 A |
| Blue | Yes | No | 0.5 A |
Editor’s Note: Rancho Quick Lift Vs Bilstein 5100
Contrast Between ATC & ATM Blade Fuse
ATC & ATM fuses do not have much of a difference. They both serve the same purpose with different sizes. But they contain some specific configurations that separate them. Let’s see what they are.
Size
In the case of size, the ATC fuse contains 19.1 × 5.1 × 18.5 mm dimensions. This size is considered a standard size in blade fuses. On the other hand, the ATM fuse is called MINI Fuse because of its 10.9 × 3.6 × 16.3 mm dimensions.
Availability
ATC blade fuse came in the market way before ATM. That is why You can find ATC fuses in most old models of vehicles. Modern model cars are more concerned with space and design. So, they use ATM MINI blade automotive fuse.
Current Rating
Primarily every blade fuse has a breaking capacity of 32 Volt. If the voltage rises above this, there is a possibility to fuse. ATC fuses can have 0.5 AMP to 40 AMP, while ATM fuses can have an ampere rating from 2 to 30.
Pros & Cons of ATC & ATM Fuse
Both ATC and ATM blade fuse share the same advantages and disadvantages for your vehicle. Let’s disclose them.
Pros
- They both are interchangeable & corrosion resistant
- They both create electrical isolation during overvoltage
- They are inexpensive and save the cost of repairing
- They do not need high maintenance or care
- Both of them are classified as fast-acting fuses
- Most importantly they are lifesavers elements
Cons
- They permit the electrical system to be overheated
- They need to be changed every time they operate
- Finding the correct fuse after being blown is difficult
Let’s Do Some Repairing
You read about ATC VS ATM fuse. They are automotive applications, and they help you to have a healthy engine. Additionally, they give you circuit protection. Also, you get to know that they melt after the circuit fault happens. So you need to replace them as soon as possible.
This section of our article will teach you some repairing regarding automotive fuse.
How To Check If Any Fuse Is Blown
Some parts of your car will start to disturb your drive or stop working if any fuse burn case happens. Further, you can check the car fuse panel if they are okay or not. It is better to check your fuses after a long drive to be safe.
Firstly turn off your car correctly. Try to find the main fuse box or fuse holder. It depends on the car model where the fuse box is. You should check your manual to know the exact location of the box. Driver’s side footwell is the most commonplace to have the fuse box in there.
Once you find the fuse holder, open it. You will discover many-colored fuses are plugged in the box. In a typical vehicle, the number of fuses is 30. It depends on how many additional circuit they use in that car. More wire is equal to more fuses.
Now you have to identify which fuse is blown. You can use a multimeter or test light to recognize the dead fuse. The ATC and ATM fuses come with LED lights on the fuse tap to make them easy to separate. Also, the wire element inside them will be burned or melted.
How To Restore Blade Fuse
We have already provided you with a chart to recognize any blade fuse by color. So which fuse is blown and how much AMP they contain is easy for you to verify. Moreover, you can find a new fuse by matching it precisely with the damaged one.
Make sure the fuse box is clean, without any dust or dirt. Take out the dead fuse by using a fuse puller. Naturally, put the new blade fuse at the same spot. Firmly press the new one to make sure it is appropriately inside. Compare its height with the other plugged fuses.
Close the box properly and replace it in its spot. Turn on your car to see the result. Make sure the affected component is working fine. Contact a professional repairer if you find any problem even after replacing the dead fuse. Do not forget to double-check the manual.
The task is simple, isn’t it? A small repairing task can save your time, money, trouble, and the life of your vehicle. If you are a regular driver, you should buy a few tools like a fuse tester, butt connectors, and a fuse puller. They are not expensive, so are blade fuses.
Always buy brand new products. Amazon offers you various fuses packages at a cheaper rate.
People Often Ask
How Many Types Of Fuses Are There?
We have Blade type fuse, RV fuse, Glass fuse, Bosch fuse, Cartridge fuse, Lucas fuse, Jcase fuse, etc. different types of fuses are categorized into two categories, fast blow fuse, and slow blow fuse.
What Does ATC Stand For In Fuses?
ATC in fuses stands for Automatic Transfer Case. This fuse blocks extreme electric power supply by melting itself. It is called a standard blade fuse, as It comes in regular or standard size.
What Is The Difference Between ATC & ATO fuse?
ATO and ATC are basically the same automotive fuse. O in ATO stands for open housing, and C in ATC stands for close housing. ATO is open to the fuse box environment, while ATC is closed with a plastic case.
What Do The Numbers On Fuses Mean?
The numbers on fuses refer to their current rating or ampere capacity. Suppose a red color blade fuse has 10 written on it. It means it is capable of containing 10 Ampere or AMP. A= ampere.
What Are The Different Blade Fuse Sizes?
Blade automotive fuses have different sizes named, Micro2 fuse, Micro3, LP-mini, Mini, Regular, and Maxi. 19.1 × 5.1 × 18.5 mm is the standard size. ATC & ATO are regular in size, while ATM is mini.
What Is Low Profile Mini Fuse?
It is a variation of an automotive blade fuse. These fuses are also known as LP-Mini, APS, and ATT. 10.9 × 3.81 × 8.73 mm is their dimensions, and they have ampere current rating from 2 A to 30 A.
Which One Did You Find In Your Car?
Whatever the differences ATC and ATM hold, their primary focus is to protect your vehicle from circuit problems and fire hazards. They work as a circuit breaker to secure your battery terminals and cable ties.
In this ATC VS ATM fuse game, they are different by their common blade fuse sizes and the AMP they contain. Other than that, they offer the exact purpose of preventing overheating, short circuits, and corrosion.
However, make sure you know their functions, AMP, different sizes, and colors to identify. It will help you to check the fuses and replace them when needed. Knowing and doing this simple task by yourself can save your car and you.
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