Phil Dayson wrote in 020307 MMDigest, "I guess I could put a fuse
in-line with each solenoid but I would hope there is a better solution."

Even though the device described is not a pipe organ, the wiring of
it could probably be construed to be similar enough in terms of scope
and applicable characteristics as to be subject to the U.S. National
Electric Code articles which cover such instruments, namely Article
650.  This article states that no load is to be fused at any greater
current rating than 6 amperes per circuit.

So, the "easy" solution would be, since each coil draws one ampere
each, I would segmentize the "return" lines into groups of loads of no
more than 5 amperes (giving a margin of "safety" so that if 5 solenoids
fire at once, the inrush from the inductive load isn't such as to
take-out the fuse!

While hardly high-tech, it is the appropriate solution as the NEC nor
the solenoid really don't care where the protection is, just so long as
it _is_ there.

Obviously, it's much less costly to use 18 fuses, rather than 88, and
you've achieved the necessary overcurrent protection!

Hope this helps!

Faithfully,

Richard Schneider - Schneider Pipe Organs, Inc.
Kenney, IL  61749-0137
http://www.schneiderpipeorgans.com/