Fuses: The Small but Mighty Overcurrent Devices
As creatures of the most technologically advanced era (as of yet), it’s needless to say we’re tech addicts; some more than others. Everything about us, and our daily lives revolves around use of electronics, machines, and appliances. This means we’re very dependent on technology, and more so on electricity. Speaking of electricity, there’s one item in particular that’s of great importance to us: the fuse.
Talk about size not mattering; a thing so simple and small as the fuse can make a great difference into our homes. So, what do we know about fuses? These small, mighty devices, are designed to protect us and our homes from electric shocks by a self-sacrificing method: melting a circuit to help with prevention of excessive current threat, protecting both our appliances and electrical devices from damages, as well as cutting out the possibility of a fire.
Not only are they meant to protect us, they’re also affordable; the ideally designed devices that can save us a lot of money and trouble. You can expect to find plenty of fuses for sale, all affordable, easy to install, or replace, but you have to be in the know of the different types there are, and the one you actually need. There are five types you’d come across: type-S, time delay, standard plug, low-voltage, and knife blade cartridge fuses.
Type-S fuses are usually part of panels that power small appliances, which is also the case with time delay ones – typical for residential panels. The differences between them are in the way they function; the type-S can protect appliances from improper installations, whereas time delay (as their name implies) can withstand surges of short power. The standard plug fuses are the widely used ones, rating up to 30 amperes as well as the time delay, and are able to protect both from overloaded and short circuits.
Low-voltage fuses are usually found in electronic appliances, rating up to 20 amperes, and same as the standard can signal overloaded and short circuits. As for the knife blade cartridge fuses, they are rating up to 60 amperes, and can withstand surges happening momentarily. Apart from knowing the different types of fuses for sale, it’s advisable to measure the size of the fuse in your unit, because they do come in different sizes, and the current they are suitable for.
You can tell a fuse that’s meant to be replaced either by its loss of colour, or by its melted state. While it’s easy to replace a fuse, if you don’t exactly know what you’re doing, you’re better off to get the help of a professional so you avoid causing great electric issues.
