Electrical fuse

ELECTRICAL FUSE

The fuse is a simple and reliable safety device. It is second to none in its ease of application and its ability to protect people and equipment. The fuse is a current-sensitive device. It has a conductor with a reduced cross-section (element) normally surrounded by an arc-quenching and heat-conducting material (filler). The entire unit is enclosed in a body fitted with end contacts. A basic fuse element design is illustrated.

Ratings

Most fuses have three electrical ratings: ampere rating, voltage rating, and interrupting rating. The ampere rating indicates the current the fuse can carry without melting or exceeding specific temperature rise limits. The voltage rating, ac or dc, usually indicates the maximum system voltage that can be applied to the fuse. The interrupting rating (I.R.) defines the maximum short-circuit current that a fuse can safely interrupt. If a fault current higher than the interrupting rating causes the fuse to operate, the high internal pressure may cause the fuse to rupture. It is imperative, therefore, to install a fuse, or any other type of protective device, that has an interrupting rating not less than the available short-circuit current. A violent explosion may occur if the interrupting rating of any protective device is inadequate.

 

A fuse must perform two functions. The first, the “passive” function, is one that tends to be taken for granted. In fact, if the fuse performs the passive function well, we tend to forget that the fuse exists at all. The passive function simply entails that the fuse can carry up to its normal load current without aging or overheating. Once the current level exceeds predetermined limits, the “active” function comes into play and the fuse operates. It is when the fuse is performing its active function that we become aware of its existence. In most cases, the fuse will perform its active function in response to two types of circuit conditions. The first is an overload condition, for instance, when a hairdryer, teakettle, toaster, and radio are plugged into the same circuit. This overload condition will eventually cause the element to melt. The second condition is the overcurrent condition, commonly called the short circuit or the fault condition. This can produce a drastic, almost instantaneous, rise in current, causing the element to melt usually in less than a quarter of a cycle. Factors that can lead to a fault condition include rodents in the electrical system, loose connections, dirt and moisture, breakdown of insulation, foreign contaminants, and personal mistakes. Preventive maintenance and care can reduce these causes. Unfortunately, none of us are perfect and faults can occur in virtually every electrical system—we must protect against them