Companies offer various sizes to suit diverse applications
Makers said speed or time current, body material and rated voltage are the key features. Based on time required to respond to an overcurrent condition, products can be classified into fastand slow-blow or time-delay. Typical versions of the first are positioned as general-purpose units. The swiftest ones are suitable for the most-sensitive electrical equipment, where even a short exposure to an overload current could cause severe damage.
Fast or ultrafast varieties are appropriate for semiconductor devices that heat rapidly when excess current flows. The time-delay variant, also known as anti-surge or slow-blow, is designed to allow a current above the rated value of the fuse to fl ow for a short period of time without the latter blowing up. This is used in motors, which draw a large initial current for a few milliseconds after they have been switched on.
Companies offer various sizes to suit diverse applications. Manufacture is in standardized package layouts, making the products easily interchangeable. The body material may be ceramic, glass, plastic, fiberglass, or molded mica laminates or compressed fiber.
Walter Electronic Co. Ltd’s selection includes glass-tube and microfuses used in home and portable electronic devices. The enterprise is looking to release smaller designs. Its FCP series of microfuses includes fast-acting 125Vrated models measuring 3×7.3mm.
Meanwhile, resettable or selfresetting varieties use PPTC thermistors that impede the circuit during an over current by increasing device resistance. These are for applications where replacement is difficult such as in aerospace and nuclear systems, or on a computer motherboard to prevent a short-circuited mouse or keyboard from causing damage. Such configurations target telecom systems, networking equipment, PCs and peripherals, primary and secondary batteries, automotives, instrumentations and industrial controls, power supplies and consumer electronics.
Automotive fuses are used to protect wiring and electrical equipment in vehicles. There are several versions with specific applications, voltage and current demands but the four distinct categories are blade, glass-tube or Bosch, fusible links and fuse limiters. These can be mounted on blocks, inline holders or clips.
Photo-Top Technologies Co. Ltd’s blade-type series has an embedded LED indicator that glows during a blowout, making it easier for technicians to find the broken part and replace it. Since LEDs operate at very low temperature and draw a small current, these configurations are appropriate for sensitive electronics in vehicles, DC motors, audio equipment and industrial machinery. The Photo Fuse series is patented in the US, Europe, Japan, Taiwan and the mainland. It complies with CE, UL, SAT, E-Mark and G-Mark.