Fuses and switches provide overcurrent protection for electrical circuits. A fuse contains a metal element that melts when too much current flows through, interrupting the circuit. It was first used in 1847 to protect telegraph stations from lightning strikes. Common fuse materials include tin, lead, silver, and copper. Fuses come in types like slow blow and self-resetting. Switches like isolating switches are used to isolate circuits for maintenance or repairs.
Fuses and switches provide overcurrent protection for electrical circuits. A fuse contains a metal element that melts when too much current flows through, interrupting the circuit. It was first used in 1847 to protect telegraph stations from lightning strikes. Common fuse materials include tin, lead, silver, and copper. Fuses come in types like slow blow and self-resetting. Switches like isolating switches are used to isolate circuits for maintenance or repairs.
Fuses and switches provide overcurrent protection for electrical circuits. A fuse contains a metal element that melts when too much current flows through, interrupting the circuit. It was first used in 1847 to protect telegraph stations from lightning strikes. Common fuse materials include tin, lead, silver, and copper. Fuses come in types like slow blow and self-resetting. Switches like isolating switches are used to isolate circuits for maintenance or repairs.
Fuses and switches provide overcurrent protection for electrical circuits. A fuse contains a metal element that melts when too much current flows through, interrupting the circuit. It was first used in 1847 to protect telegraph stations from lightning strikes. Common fuse materials include tin, lead, silver, and copper. Fuses come in types like slow blow and self-resetting. Switches like isolating switches are used to isolate circuits for maintenance or repairs.
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Fuses and Switches
What is fuse A fuse (from the French fuse means fusible, Italian fuso, means molten) is a type of low resistance resistor that acts as a sacrificial device to provide overcurrent protection, of either the load or source circuit. Its essential component is a metal wire or strip that melts when too much current flows through it, interrupting the circuit that it connects. Short circuits, overloading, mismatched loads, or device failure are the prime reasons for excessive current. Fuses are an alternative to circuit breakers.
History In 1847, Breguet recommended use of reducedsection conductors to protect telegraph stations from lightning strikes; by melting, the smaller wires would protect apparatus and wiring inside the building. A fuse was patented by Thomas Edison in 1890 as part of his electric distribution system.
Material used Tin, lead, silver, zinc, aluminium, copper For small values of current: Lead 37% + Tin 63% Silver is good no oxidation and its oxide is unstable; but expensive.
Definitions
Slow blow fuses - designed to allow harmless
short term currents over their rating while still interrupting a sustained overload. Self resetting fuses - useful in environments where a human replacing a blown fuse would be difficult or impossible, for example in aerospace or nuclear applications
Introduction
Fuse as a Weak link
Construction
Element operation
Current limiting effect
Fuse rating
Voltage rating Current rating Interrupting rating Watts loss
Fuse characteristics Time-current curves Cut off curves Isquared*t values
The time and current operating
characteristics of fuses are chosen to provide adequate protection without needless interruption.
Time current curves
Time required to blow out the fuse depens upon
the magnitude of excessive current. Greater the current, smaller the time taken to blow out the fuse. So, inverse time-current characteristics
I2t (Ampere squaredseconds) characteristics
Cut off current
characteristics
Fuse discrimination
Fuses
Advantages
Disadvantages
Desirable Characteristics of Fuse Element
Fuse Element Materials
Important Terms
Types of Fuses Low Voltage Fuses High Voltage Fuses
High-Rupturing Capacity (HRC) Fuse
Properties of HRC Fuses
Fast Operation Rupturing Capacity Non-Deterioration Low-Temperature Operation Arc Voltage within Safe Limits Low Cost
Current Carrying Capacity of
Fuse Element
Difference Between Fuse
& Circuit Breaker
Isolating Switches
Types of Isolators Horizontal Central Rotating Double Break Isolator Vertical Break Isolator Pantograph Isolator
