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Fuse is a device which is used to protect various electrical device from unneeded overload current. It has as its critical component a metal wire or strip that will melt when heated by a prescribed electric current, opening the circuit of which it is a part, and so protecting the circuit from an overcurrent condition.
How are fuses rated?
Fuses are rated depending upon their ability to carry current, voltage and interrupt capacity (i.e., its potential to break in order to stop flow of current through circuit in case of a short circuit). In addition to all these, they are also rated depending upon their design to operate on AC or DC circuits.
Voltage rating: The voltage rating of the fuse is the highest voltage up to which a safe fault current interruption will occur. Consider the maximum effective operating voltage of the circuit. In such case, the rated current of the fuse should consider factors such as: the maximum continuous operating current of the circuit and the influence of the ambient temperature.
Interrupt capacity: The rated breaking capacity of the fuse (interrupting rating) is the short circuit current at which the fuse can blow (at the rated voltage) without destruction or arcing being maintained.
Types of fuses
The various types of fuses are as follows:
· Plug fuses
· Type S fuses
· Cartridges fuses
· Mini breakers
Plug fuses consist of a thin metallic element, which melts when the current flowing through the fuse exceeds the defined capacity. Plug fuses are normally threaded and they can simply screw into the opening of the fuse panel. Although, these fuses are relatively reliable, problems crop up when they are replaced with higher rated fuses, as in many cases, any size plug fuse will fit into any other plug fuse opening; however, an attempt to fit inappropriate higher rated fuse would only lead to serious current overloads.
Type S fusesare tamper-resistant fuses manufactured to prevent switching fuse sizes in the same fuse box opening. These fuses use an adaptor base and a fuse insert. Once an adaptor base is installed, fuses with a higher rating cannot be installed in that fuse box opening. Due to these tamper-resistant qualities, Type S fuses are the only type allowed by the National Electrical Code in new fuse box installations.
Cartridge fuses normally have higher current ratings and are commonly seen in higher capacity circuits such as; water heaters, or ranges; Simultaneously, it also acts as the main fuse for the entire electrical system. These fuses are usually found inside of a fuse block, which is part of the fuse box.
Mini breakers are ordinary plug fuses with a reset button, which acts like small circuit breakers. This breakers encounter problem when reset buttons are taped down or pushed down by the fuse box cover
Circuit breakers are enhanced version of fuses, which provide the overcurrent protection that fuses do, but are less likely to be altered by the building owner or tenant. They are also restorable which means that they do not need to be replaced when they operate; they simply need to be reset.
Circuit breakers have been common in new wiring systems since the 1960s. This Switch-like device has gained popularity because they don`t destroy themselves in the process of breaking the circuit as fuses do.
Note: -
Although overcurrent protection placement in a circuit may determine the relative shock hazard of that circuit under various conditions, it must be understood that such devices were never designed to protect against any electric shock. Neither fuses nor circuit breakers were designed to open in the event of a person getting shocked; In fact, they are made to open only under conditions of potential conductor- overheating.
Overcurrent device should not be considered as Life saving device
Overcurrent devices have been designed to serve two basic purposes, which are as follows:
1. It is made to protect the conductors of a circuit from overtemperature damage (and the fire hazards related with overly hot conductors).
2. It is made to protect specific pieces of equipment such as loads and generators (some fast-acting fuses are designed to protect electronic devices particularly susceptible to current
surges).
Also, it should be kept in the mind that the current levels required for electric shock or electrocution are much lower than the normal current levels of common power loads, Hence, a condition of overcurrent is not indicative of shock occurring. There are other devices designed to detect certain chock conditions (ground-fault detectors being the most popular), but these devices strictly serve that one purpose and are uninvolved with protection of the conductors against overheating
To sum up
· The fuse must carry the normal load current of the circuit without nuisance openings. However, when an overcurrent occurs the fuse must interrupt the overcurrent, limit the energy let-through, and withstand the voltage across the fuse during arcing.
· Fuses are rated depending upon their ability to carry current, voltage and interrupt capacity.
· The various types of fuses are Plug fuses, Type S fuses, Cartridges fuses, Mini breakers, and Circuit breakers.
· Fuses or Circuit Breakers are not fully foolproof devices to avoid any electrical damages.
Fuses compared with circuit breakers
-Fuses are less costly compared to circuit breaker.
-"Current-limiting" fuses are capable of clearing the fault in less than one cycle of the AC power frequency which Circuit breakers cannot.
-Circuit breakers needs inspection after its interruption in case of a fault, and requires a replacement if damaged.
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