What is the use of fuses?

When overload and short-circuit faults occur in a system or equipment, fuses cut off power to the system or equipment to prevent damage to it. To accomplish this, the fuse melt opens or vaporizes, thus severing the physical conductive path.

What components does a fuse consist of?

The fuse consists of the following components

ceramic body

Melt made of copper, silver or metal composites

block shot

Connecting Terminals (tags)

Sand Filler

When a fuse blows, what happens inside the fuse?

High currents will heat the fuse melt

Melt heated to 2000oC

The arc will burn the melt and the temperature will be hotter than the sun

The melt vaporizes and expands to more than 65,000 times its original size

Filling sand melts

The filled sand sticks together to form a glass body (Lightning Lava)

Because the fuse tube body is completely sealed, the energy released during a short circuit is confined within the fuse body.

What happens if the fuse fails?

Fuses contain complex engineering inside to ensure they blow safely under certain circumstances.https://www.mirofuses.com/BOLT-CONNECTED-FUSE-LINKare often designed to handle extremely high overload currents to protect the circuitry of a system or device from damage by such overcurrents. If a fuse fails, it could have catastrophic consequences, perhaps causing an explosion and danger to the equipment or people nearby.

Improper use of fuses is the main reason why fuses fail to blow properly in faulty circuits. There are many factors to consider when selecting a fuse to ensure you are using the correct fuse. All circuit conditions must be understood to ensure that fuses can blow safely. If in doubt about which fuse to use, the manufacturer should be consulted.

This means you should only purchase fuses from reputable manufacturers and authorized dealers. In addition, you must be careful of counterfeit products and never purchase products from trading websites with unclear supply chains or websites you do not understand. If a merchant advertises a product that has good performance but is too cheap, it may not be genuine.

Fuses are a safety device and should only be purchased from a reputable authorized dealer or directly from the manufacturer.

Can I replace the fuse link with a fuse?

Although a fuse will melt or vaporize and break the circuit, it does not protect against the effects of overcurrent. Fuses are often required to handle extremely high overload currents that can cause explosions, so they also need to protect the surrounding environment, including any nearby equipment or personnel.

A fuse may be suitable for non-critical, low-power applications where overload current is low, but it cannot control the melting process or provide any level of safety.

Should I use a fuse or a circuit breaker?

Both devices break the circuit when an overload or short circuit occurs, and the two often work together. Fuses are generally more cost-effective than circuit breakers, but unlike circuit breakers that can be reset, fuses require fuse replacement after blowing. Circuit breakers are typically 4-5 times larger than equivalent fuse protection devices.

Generally speaking, fuses are more suitable for breaking faults with extremely high currents, so they are usually installed in switchboards/switchboards or in front of electrical equipment for backup protection. For example, a circuit breaker may have a breaking capacity of 5kA, and any fault current above that will cause damage to the circuit breaker. In comparison, a fuse can have a breaking capacity of 33kA or more, depending on its design.

In addition, fuses will not vaporize or explode under extreme fault conditions and therefore will not damage the electrical system or equipment they protect. This means that in applications such as substations, fuses are often used upstream in the distribution system.

Since every application is different, users should conduct careful research to determine the best overcurrent protection device.

How long is the service life of a fuse?

If the fuse does not blow, it will typically have a service life of 20-30 years as long as it operates within its design range.

If a fuse is exposed to severe cycling operating temperatures (i.e., extreme cold or heat), its service life will be reduced. This means you need to check the environment in which it is used. If the fuse is used in a hot climate, where temperatures are typically above 35oC, its service life may be affected. Likewise, high-temperature industrial applications (such as foundries) can also affect fuse life.

However, such factors can be taken into account when selecting a fuse and determining its breaking capacity to reduce the effects of heat-induced fuse fatigue. There are many factors that affect the service life of a fuse and they are extremely difficult to predict. Every application is different, but calculations can be made to ensure that the fuse provides good over current protection and a long service life.

If you have questions about the best fuse for your application, you are welcome to consult MIRO.

MIRO is a leading manufacturer of high-quality fuse links for a wide range of applications. Our products are designed to provide reliable protection against overcurrents and short circuits. In this guide, we will provide a comprehensive overview of our fuse links, including square pipe fuse link for sale, cylindrical fuse types, and cartridge fuse links.

Email:christiana.wang@mingrongep.com