A fuse is a safety device that breaks an electric circuit if the current gets above safe levels. It is also referred to as sacrificial device, because it can perform this function only once. Some of the most common fuses that are presently used in electronics are 3A, 5A and 15A.
Electric Fuse
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Today, circuit breakers are considered the better option, and so one-time-use fuses are no longer used for house wiring. But fuses are still being used in vehicles and electronic devices such as radios.
History
Thomas Edison is credited with the invention of the electrical fuse. He got its patent in 1890 and also built an electric power distribution system by using fuses.
What is fuse made of?
A fuse is formed by using a very thin metal strip in a protective glass that acts as a medium to disconnect load from power in case of a faulty electric circuit. The fuse wire makes use of distinct types of alloys such as iron, nickel, zinc, aluminum and chromium. Electric fuses come in a wide variety of voltage and current rating to protect different equipments depending on their power load.
How Do Electrical Fuse Work?
The Electrical Fuse works when there is a strong electrical surge in the circuit. The thin strip of wire in the transparent glass melts and suspends the flow of electric current. Unlike circuit breakers which can be reused to allow current to flow through them, once a fuse trips, it’s time to plug-in a new one.
Now picture a building or a vehicle without any fuse, the damage that can happen to it is unimaginable.
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