XXX . XXX Putting Pennies In The Fuse Box - Precious Metals Supply And Demand
Careening from Crisis to Crisis
Back in the old days, homes had fuse boxes. Today, of course, any new house is built with a circuit breaker panel, and many older homes have been upgraded at one time or another. However, the fuse is a much more interesting analogy for the monetary system.
When a fuse burned out, it was protecting you from the risk of a house fire. Each circuit is designed for only so much current. The problem is that higher current causes more heat, and it can start a fire. So they put fuses in, which burn out before the wire gets hot enough to be dangerous.
The problem is that it's annoying when a fuse burns out, especially when it's the last one and the hardware store is far away and/or closed for the weekend. So people all too often put a penny in the place of the fuse. And then, human nature being what it is, they left it there long term. As an aside, pennies in those days were solid copper, not the copper plated zinc they use today, because it's cheaper.
We would guess that a disproportionate number of house fires were started because an overloaded circuit became overheated, and the protective fuse was replaced with a penny that would keep the juice flowing no matter what.
So, what has that got to do with gold and silver? A penny in the fuse box is a perfect analogy for what President Roosevelt did in 1933. Many believe when he confiscated gold, it was to grab the loot. While we have no doubt that he and his cronies lusted for the gold of the people, he had a more serious purpose.
Until 1933, gold was the core monetary asset in the banking system. When people withdrew their gold coin - redeeming their gold, not buying gold - that forced the bank to sell a bond to raise the gold to redeem depositors. If a bank could not raise enough gold, perhaps because bond prices were going down, then the bank was bankrupt. Another problem is that falling bond prices mean rising interest rates.
Precious Metals in Electronic Devices

PRECIOUS METALS IN ELECTRONICS
Gold and silver are at your fingertips! If you could look closely inside your mobile phone or tablet device, you’d find small amounts of gold, silver, platinum and palladium — the four precious metals that are the “nuts and bolts” of modern electronics.These precious metals share one common property that separates them from most other metals; they are excellent conductors of electricity. Other attributes favor them over copper, such as gold’s corrosion resistance, silver’s superior conductivity or platinum’s hardness. Let’s look at the precious metals and their applications in electronics.
Gold
The electronics sector is the primary industrial consumer of gold and silver. Versatile gold (Au) is an excellent conductor, prized for its reliability and superior resistance to corrosion. The most malleable of all metals, gold can be worked into solid-state and microelectronic applications carrying the tiniest currents. It is used in connectors, switch and relay contacts, wiring, thin-film layers and protective coatings, and soldering or brazing joints. Nominal amounts of gold can be found in nearly all electronics today, including mobile phones, PCs and tablets, and televisions. Typical applications using gold include:- Coatings on touch-sensitive visual display screens
- Edge and plug-and-socket connectors on motherboards
- Flash memory devices
- Soft gold plating for semiconductors
- Aerospace instrumentation and other high-temperature environments
Silver
With the highest electrical conductivity in the Periodic Table, silver (Ag) is often preferred over less expensive metals. Silver can be found wherever solders, contacts, relays and switches are found, from handheld devices to large appliances.The touch-sensitive screen on your mobile phone, tablet or microwave oven has a flat membrane switch behind the panel or screen made from silver paste. Silver paste is also used in solar cells and multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs). Plasma TV display panels utilize silver electrodes to generate a higher-quality image.
Paired with a superconductor like lead, silver facilitates faster electrical transmissions and can produce magnetic energy to power motors such as on a magnetic levitation train (MAGLEV).
Other common applications using silver:
- CDs, DVDs and rewriteable optical disks
- High-voltage contacts (Silver cadmium oxide resists arcing)
- Button batteries (silver oxide) and laptop batteries (silver zinc oxide)
Palladium
Also found in nearly all electronic devices, palladium (Pd) is key in the manufacture of computer chips and circuits. MLCCs and hybrid integrated circuits (HIC) contain palladium, as do thermocouples, contacts, circuit board frames, electrothermal fuses and electroplating. Palladium is often preferred to gold plating because less material weight is needed to achieve the same thickness. Palladium-silver alloys are used to make electrodes.Platinum
Long used in thermocouples, platinum (Pt) is also used in contacts, fine resistance wires and permanent magnets. Platinum is ideally suited to corrosive or high-voltage conditions. In alloy form it is used as a magnetic coating for hard disk drives, optical storage systems and as a fabrication material in making high-grade glass for electroluminescent diodes.Electronic Medical Devices
Precious metals are key components in implantable devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators and brain stimulators. These “bioelectrodes” interface between electrical systems and biological tissues. Platinum and palladium are metals of choice because they are rugged, biocompatible, resist chemical corrosion and are radiopathic — visible on X-rays.Other Metals of Note
While not classified as precious metals, other metals are worthy of mention. Iridium (Ir) crucibles are used to generate single-crystal sapphire for LEDs in smart phones and flat-panel displays, and lithium-based crystals for surface acoustic weave filters in cell phones and wireless communications. Nickel (Ni) is commonly used in rechargeable batteries. Osmium (Os) is a hardening agent in platinum alloys. Highly reflective rhodium (Rh) is used as an optical coating for sophisticated electronic spectroscopy. Ruthenium (Ru) adds hardness and corrosion resistance to contacts and disk drives. And ubiquitous copper (Cu) remains a universal favorite for wiring and semiconductors.XXX . XXX HIFi-Tuning
HiFi-Tuning is the brainchild of Bernd Ahne, resident of Berlin, and inveterate audiophile. Along with other system upgrades, they are the manufacturers of some of the finest audiophile grade fuses in the world and the only manufacturer using precious metals from end to end.
| FUSES Protecting electrical circuits and electrical/electronic devices using fuses is such a complex aspect that a so called "Fuseology" scientific branch was developed to deal specifically with it. That is no joke; the theory behind fuses it is very important because they work as "protection elements"! The intention is to present here an example of using fuses, which is, unfortunately, too little known. So; the fuse is a protection component in electric and electronic circuits. In electronics, the fuse plays an important role, since it protects various circuits from overcurrents which could destroy an expensive electronic component/circuit. Let's look at the fuses in your home. Their role is to protect the CABLES (the wiring) running through your home. That means, fuses do not protect your fridge, not your TV, not your computer, and not your life; those fuses protect only the CABLES! In order to protect your life, your need GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)--these are in fact relays. The same thing is valid in the industry. If you have a ten thousand dollars electrical engine, the utility fuses on the cables supplying power to that engine protect only the cables, not the engine, although the cables cost, say, one hundred dollars only. In order to protect that expensive engine there should be a control panel having all sort of protective relays, or the protection means could be built inside the engine itself. The aspects of protecting people's lives using fuses and relays are very serious issues, and you need to know them very well before starting electrical/electronic hardware design. A person could be killed by voltages as low 24 V and by 80..100 mA currents, in some particular circumstances. Please study electricity first, before designing electronics. Besides, if you come up with a commercial product, please remember that it needs to be certified by a certifying agency. There, all the good rules of safety design are analyzed first, and before anything else. Your product could be revolutionary, technologically, but if it is not safe for use (this is, considering many adverse situations) it is not going to be certified. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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XXX . XXX TRIP Fuse What is Fuses
Fuse Construction:
Commonly used terms for Fuse
Maximum threshold ratio for various types of fuses:
Type of Fuse:
LOW VOLTAGE FUSES
(1) Re Wire able Fuse:
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(2) Totally Enclosed Or Cartridges Type Fuse:
A) D- Type Cartridges Fuses
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B) Link type Cartridge or High Rupturing Capacity (HRC)
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(A) Knife Blade Type HRC Fuse:
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TIME DELAY FUSE TYPE
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| Class | Voltage | Current |
| Class-L (LCL) | 600V AC | 601 – 6000A |
| Class RK1 (LENRK) | 250V AC | 0.6 -600A |
| Class RK1 (LESRK) | 600V AC | 0.5 -600A |
| Class RK5 (ECNR) | 250V AC | 0.1 -600A |
| Class RK5 (ECSR) | 600V AC | 0.1 -600A |
| Class J (JDL) | 600V AC | 1 -600A |
| Class CC (HCTR) | 600V AC | 0.25 -10A |
FAST ACTING TYPE FUSE(Non/time-delay)
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| Class | Voltage | Current |
| Class-T (TJN) | 300V AC | 1 – 800A |
| Class-T (TJS) | 600V AC | 1 – 800A |
| Class-L (LCU) | 600V AC | 601– 6000A |
| Class-RK1(NCLR) | 250V AC | 1 – 600A |
| Class-RK1(SCLR) | 600V AC | 1 – 600A |
| Class J (JFL) | 600V AC | 1 -600A |
| Class CC (HCLR) | 600V AC | 0.1 -30A |
Fuse Class:
(1) Class L, fuses
- They provide a minimum time delay of 4 seconds at 500% of their rated current to handle harmless inrush currents, plus they are 20% more current limiting than any other Class L fuse.
- That means optimal over current protection for service entrances, large motors, feeders and other circuits.
- Range from 601 to 6000 amperes, 600V AC, 300kA
- I.R., and an exclusive 500V DC, 100kA I.R., through 3000A.
- Fastest operation under short circuit conditions
- Most current limiting for lowest peak let-thru current
- Replaces all older Class L fuses
- Pure silver links for long fuse life
- AC and DC ratings
- High-grade silica filler for fast arc quenching
- Mains and feeders
- Large motors
- Lighting, heating and general loads
- Power circuit breaker backup
- UPS DC links, battery disconnects and other DC applications
- Mains and feeders — Can size at 100% of expected full load, unless equipment manufacturers specify
- Motor starters — Consult your motor control manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Lighting, heating and general loads — Can size at 100% to 125%, depending on load make-up.
- Transformers — Due to the high inrush currents that can be experienced with transformers, size fuse to carry 12 times transformer full load for 0.1 second and 25 times full load for 0.01 second.
(2) Class J, fuses
- The most current-limiting UL-class fuse, provide optimal performance, prevent interchangeability with old fuses, and save valuable panel space. So you can use smaller, more economical fuse blocks and IEC contactors to provide superior protection for dedicated or combined motor, lighting, heating and transformer loads.
- Plus their time delay characteristic allows for use in a wide range of applications.
- Rated from 1 to 600 amperes, 600V AC, 300kA I.R., and 500V DC, 100kA I.R., listed to UL 248-8, they’re the right fuses for any new installation.
- Most current-limiting UL-class fuses
- Timesaving Smart Spot™ indicator
- Unique dimensions prevent misapplications
- Optional mechanical indicator available on 70A to 600A AJT fuses
- Motor circuits
- Mains and feeders
- Branch circuits
- Lighting, heating and general loads
- Transformers and control panels
- Circuit breaker backup
- Bus duct
- Load centers
- Mains and feeders: Can size at 125% of load for NEC and CEC code compliance.
- Motor starters: For typical starting duty and optimal coordination, fuse rating should not exceed 150% of motor FLA. Where “no-damage” tests have been conducted, follow the control gear manufacturer’s fuse ampere rating recommendations.
- Lighting, heating and general loads: Can size at 125% of combined load for NEC and CEC code compliance.
- Transformers: Due to the high inrush currents that can be experienced with transformers, size fuse to carry 12 times transformer full load for 0.1 second and 25 times full load for 0.01 second.
(3) Class RK1 fuses:
- Significantly more current limiting than Class RK5, K and H fuses, upgrading your existing feeder and branch circuits to arc flash category “0”. They also offer plenty of application flexibility, with ratings from 1/10A to 600A (250V or 600V), 300kA I.R.
- Highly current limiting to achieve HRC “0”
- Timesaving Smart Spot™ indicator
- Brass end caps (blade style) for cooler operation and superior performance
- Rejection-style design
- Motors
- Safety switches
- Transformers
- Branch circuit protection
- Disconnects
- Control panels
- General-purpose circuits
- Mains and feeders: Can size at 125% of load for NEC and CEC code compliance.
- Motor starters: For typical starting duty and optimal coordination, fuse rating should not exceed 150% of motor FLA. Where “no damage” tests have been conducted, follows the control gear manufacturer’s fuse ampere rating recommendations.
- Lighting, heating and general loads: Can size at 125% of combined load for NEC and CEC code compliance.
- Transformers :Due to the high inrush currents that can be experienced with transformers, size fuse to carry 12 times transformer full load for 0.1 second and 25 times full load for 0.01 second.
(4) Class CC, fuses
- Choose our highly current-limiting fuses when you need maximum fault protection for sensitive branch circuit components and small motors. They deliver the best time delay characteristics and exceptional cycling ability for frequent motor starts and stops without nuisance opening. They’re available in 1/4A to 30A, 600VAC, 200kA I.R.
- Highly current limiting
- Best time-delay characteristics in a Class CC fuse
- Exceptional cycling ability for frequent motor stops and starts
- Rejection-style design
- Small motors
- Contactors
- Branch circuit protection
- Motor starters: for typical starting duty. Where “no damage” tests have been conducted, follows the control gear manufacturer’s fuse ampere rating recommendations.
- Lighting, heating and general loads: Can size at 125% of combined load for NEC and CEC code compliance.
(5) Class CC, fuses
- Class CC fuses provides the time delay needed to handle the high inrush currents of control transformers, solenoids, and similar inductive loads.
- They’re available in 1/10A to 30A, 600V AC, 200kA I.R.
- Highly current limiting
- Rejection-style design
- Special time-delay characteristics for transformer loads
- Control transformers
- Solenoids
- Inductive loads
- Branch circuit protection
- Control transformers, solenoids and similar inductive loads: For control transformers 600V AC or less with ratings up to 2000VA.fuses are designed to handle 40 times the transformer’s primary full load amperes for 0.01 second.
- Lighting, heating and general loads: Can size at 125% of combined load for NEC and CEC code compliance.
(6) Class RK5, fuses:
- Voltage / Ampere: 250V (1A to 200Amp), 600V (3A to 200A)
- The time delay characteristics of these fuses typically allows them to be sized closer to the running ampacity of inductive loads to reduce cost and improve over current protection
- Use in AC power distribution system mains, feeders, and branch circuits.
- Recommended for high inrush inductive loads, like motors and transformers, and non inductive loads like lighting, and heating loads.
(7) Class Midget fuses (600V, 0.5To 50A):
Description:- Provides supplemental protection to end-use equipment with a 100KA interruption rating, 600VAC. Fast acting design responds quickly to both overloads and short-circuit protection.
- Recommended for control circuits, street lighting, HID lighting, and electronic equipment protection
(8) Class Midget fuses (250V, 0.5To 50A)
Description:- Provides supplemental protection to end-use equipment with a 10,000A interruption rating, economical laminated paper tube
- Recommended to use as supplemental protection for non inductive control loads and lighting circuits
(9) Class Midget fuses (500V, 0.25To 30A)
Description:- Provides supplemental protection to high inrush loads. has a 10,000A interruption rating, 500VAC. Fiber tube construction.
- Recommended to use as supplemental protection for inductive control loads such as transformers and solenoids.
(10) Class Midget fuses (250V, 0.5To 30A)
Description:- Provides supplemental protection to high inrush loads. has a 10,000A interruption rating, fiber tube construction. Dual element allows harmless inductive surges to pass without opening
- Recommended to use as supplemental protection for inductive control loads such as transformers and solenoids
(11) Class 1 1/4″ x 1/4″ Ceramic (250,125V, 0.5To 30A)
Description:- Fast acting 1/4″ x 1-1/4″ ceramic tube construction.
- Recommended to use as supplemental protection for inductive control loads such as transformers and solenoids.
(12) Class 1 1/4″ x 1/4″ Glass (250,32V, 0.5To 30A)
Description:- Fast acting 1/4″ x 1-1/4″ glass tube construction.
- Recommended as supplemental protection for electronic applications.
(13) Class 5mmx20mm Glass (250,125V, 0.063To 15A)
Description:- Fast acting 5mmx20mm glass tube construction.
- Recommended as supplemental protection for electronic applications.
(14) Class 5mmx20mm Glass (250,125V, 0.5To 10A)
Description:- Medium Time Delay 5mm x 20mm glass tube construction.
- Recommended as supplemental protection for electronic applications.
(15) Class 1 1/4″ x 1/4″ Ceramic (250, 0.5To 20A)
Description:- Time Delay 1/4″ x 1-1/4″ ceramic tube construction.
- Recommended as supplemental protection for electronic applications.
(16) Class 1 1/4″ x 1/4″ Glass (250,32V, 0.0625To 20A)
Description:- Time Delay 1/4″ x 1-1/4″ glass tube construction.
- Recommended as supplemental protection for electronic applications
(17) Class 5mmx20mm Glass (250, 0.5To 10A)
Description:- Fast acting 5mm x 20mm glass tube construction
- Recommended as supplemental protection for electronic applications.
(18) Class 5mmx20mm Glass (250, 0.25To 6.3A)
Description:- Time Delay 5mm x 20mm glass tube construction.
- Recommended as supplemental protection for electronic applications.
Selection of Fuse for Main and Branch Circuits:
1 Main Service Conductor Cable Limiters (NEC 240,230.82):- Select by cable size and mounting terminal configurations required.
- Size fuses same as item 6.
- (a) PRIMARY FUSES: Size fuses not over 125%. As exceptions exist, refer to the appropriate NEC® paragraphs.
- Recommended fusesL Time Delay- Class RK1, Class RK5, Class L, Class J)
- (b) SECONDARY FUSES (Sum of following): 125% of the continuous load + 100% of non-continuous load. Fuse size not to exceed 125% of transformer secondary rated amps.
- RECOMMENDED FUSES: Class RK1, Class RK5, ClassJ LENRK, ECNR, NCLR, JDL or LCU.
- 100% of non-continuous load, +125% of continuous load.
- *Do not exceed conductor ampacity. Recommended fuses: LENRK, ECNR, NCLR, JDL, LCU, or LCL.
- 100% of non-continuous load, + 125% of continuous load. Fuse may be sized 100% when used with a continuous rated switch. Recommended fuses same as 4.
- (a) 100% of non-continuous, non-motor load + 125% of continuous, non-motor load.
- (b) Determine non-continuous motor load (NEC430.22 (e).1.) Add to “a” above.
- (c) Determine A/C or refrigeration load. (NEC 440.6). Add to “a” above.
- (d) Feeder protective device shall have a rating or setting not greater than the rating of the largest branch device and sum of the FLCs of the other motors.(NEC 430.62)
- (e) Recommended fuses: LENRK/LESRK, JDL, ECNR/ECSR, LCU, LCL.
- (a)Determine non-continuous motor load (NEC430.22 (e).
- (b)Determine load of A/C or refrigeration equipment (NEC 440.6). Add to “a” above.
- (c) Feeder protective device shall have a rating or setting not greater than the rating of the largest branch device and sum of the FLCs of the other motors.(NEC 430.62)
- (d) Recommended fuses: LENRK/LESRK, JDL, ECNR/ECSR or LCL.
- (a) Motors with 1.15 Service Factor or temperature rise not over 40 Degrees C., size fuses at not more than 125% of the motor nameplate current rating.
- (b) For all other A-C motors, size fuses at not more than 115 %.
- (c) Best protection is obtained by measuring motor running current and sizing fuses at 125% of measured current for normal motor operation. Reference to “Average Time/Current Curves” is recommended.
- (d) Recommended Fuses: LENRK/LESRK, JDL, or ECNR/ECSR
- (a) For “back-up” NEC® overload, ground fault and short circuit protection size the fuses the same as (8 a, b) above, or the next standard size larger.
- (b) The fuse sizes in a) above may be increased as allowed by NEC® references. Generally, dual element fuses should not exceed 175% of motor nameplate F.L.A. and non-UL defined time-delay fuses not more than 300 %.
- (c) Recommended fuses: LENRK/LESRK, JDL, ECNR/ ECSR or LCL.
- Application Tips:
- Size fuses as closely as practical to the ampacity of the protected circuit components without the probability of unnecessary fuse opening from harmless, transient current surges. This usually requires a choice between time-delay and non-time-delay fuses.
- Use Class R fuse clips with Class R fuses to prevent installation of fuses with less interrupting rating or current limitation. Class H fuse reducers cannot be used with Class R fuse clips.
- When a conductor is oversized to prevent excess voltage drop, size the fuses for the ampacity of protected circuit components instead of over sizing fuses for the larger conductor.
Selection of Fuse for Motor Protection:
- Group installation is an approach to building multi-motor control systems in accordance with Section 430-53 of the National Electrical Code. The selection of components used in group installations is a simple process which consists of several steps.
- First is the selection of the appropriate fuse as Branch Circuit Protective Device (BCPD).
- Second is the selection of the appropriate motor starter and protector.
- Third, the selected MMP must be checked for UL listing with the selected BCPD and the available short circuit current at the application location.
- Calculate maximum fuse size according to NEC 430-53 (c).
- Imax (fuse size) =175% x FLC (full load current for largest motor) + the sum of FLC (full load current for largest motor) + the sum of FLC values for other motors on that branch using NEC Table 430-150 on the right.
- Select fuse from NEC Table 240-6 below. Where Imax falls between two fuse ampere ratings NEC 430-53 (c) permits going to the next high ampere rating.
- Select the proper MMP catalog number for each motor load from the based on the actual motor full load current (FLA) using the “Thermal setting range” column for reference.
- Using the interruption ratings table on the next page, identify the system application voltage and interrupting capacity for the type of fuse selected in step1 above.
- NEC 240-6 Standard fuse amperes 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 110, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 600, 700, 800, 1000, 1200, 1600
- Examples: Select components for protecting the following 3-phase, 460VAC, squirrel cage induction motors. The nameplate data are: 1/2 HP, 1.0 FLA; 3 HP, 4.8 FLA; 5 HP, 7.6 FLA; 7.5 HP, 11 FLA; 10 HP, 14 FLA.
- Example: using fused disconnect
- Imax = 175% x 14 + (11 + 7.6 + 4.8 + 1) = 48.9A
- Fuse rating using Table NEC 240-6 = 50A
- Minimum disconnect size = 115% x Total FLA
- NEC 430-150 table = 115% x (14+ 11 + 7.6 + 4.8 + 1) = 44.16
- Disconnect for 50A fuses is ok
- NEC Table 430-150 full load current, 3ph AC motor
| H.P | Induction Type Motor (Squirrel Cage, Wound Type) | ||
| 230V Amp | 460V Amp | 575V Amp | |
| ½ | 2 | 1 | 0.8 |
| ¾ | 2.8 | 1.4 | 1.1 |
| 1 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 1.4 |
| 1.5 | 5.2 | 2.6 | 2.1 |
| 2 | 6.8 | 3.4 | 2.7 |
| 3 | 9.6 | 4.8 | 3.9 |
| 5 | 15.2 | 7.6 | 6.1 |
| 7.5 | 22 | 11 | 9 |
| 10 | 28 | 14 | 11 |
| 15 | 42 | 21 | 17 |
| 20 | 54 | 27 | 22 |
| 25 | 68 | 34 | 27 |
Fuse Ratings
- Fuses with an A-C voltage rating may be applied at system voltages below the fuse voltage rating, but not at voltages above the fuse voltage rating.
- The other A-C fuse ratings remain the same at applied voltages below the fuse voltage rating.
- A-C rated fuses should not be applied in D-C voltage circuits unless D-C application ratings are provided by the fuse manufacturer.
- Except for some special purpose fuses, D-C ratings are not usually shown on fuse labels.
- The operating frequency (Hertz) will affect fuse characteristics in various ways.
- Time/Current Curves will not shift and fuse ratings will not change from 1-100 Hertz in normal applications. If ferrous hardware is used to mount the fuses, eddy current heating could alter the ratings.
- Above 100 Hertz, “skin effect” could alter the fuses’ rating characteristics. This effect must be analyzed on an individual application basis.
Why Do Fuses Blow?
You've heard the term blown fuses, but what is this exactly? First, you need to know what fuses are and just exactly what they are designed to do. You see, your home's electrical wiring must be protected from short circuits and circuit overloads. A fuse incorporates a fuse link that has a specific amperage rating, usually 15, 20, or 30 amps. Without a fuse or circuit breaker with this specific rating, there would be nothing to protect the wiring, devices, or the operator running things like power tools.
The 15-amp fuse protects #14 or larger wire, the 20-amp fuse protects #12 or larger wire, and the 30-amp fuse protects #10 or larger wire.
If a circuit is overloaded, meaning beyond the preset amount of amps labeled on the fuse, the fuse blows (or opens the circuit) to protect the wires from breaking down and burning. To cure this problem, lighten the electrical load on the circuit by removing things connected to the circuit until the fuse holds.
Electrical shorts also cause fuse failure. An electrical short can be from the hot wire to ground or a hot wire to neutral. In either case, the fuse will open and shut the circuit off.
Just as the wiring is sized specific for the load it can handle without breaking down and heating up, so works the fuse. This type of protection is in place to keep your home from having an electrical fire.
Your home is protected by either circuit breakers or fuses. Both circuit breakers and fuses are rated by the maximum amount of amps they are designed to trip or blow at. This predetermined amperage rating is clearly marked on both. Circuit breaker physically looks the same, except for the amperage rating posted on the trip handle. Fuses, however, may look similar, but the new style, Edison-based, only allows you to screw the appropriately sized fuse into the socket. This safety feature stops people from taking out a small fuse, like a 15-amp fuse, and replacing it with a 20- or 30-amp fuse. As you can see, placing a larger valued fuse on a circuit with lower rated wiring is a disaster in the making.
What is worse, I have seen the farmers replace the fuse in the socket with a penny under it to short the connection across, basically having no protection at this point. Like I told the man who said he did this, "Call the fire department now! You're going to need them."
Standard sizes include 15-, 20- and 30-amp fuses in the screw-in variety.
These type of fuses screw into a socket, shaped very much like a light bulb socket. Edison-based fuses (labeled with an "S", have a smaller screw-in base and it is called a rejection base. This means that only the right sized fuse can be replaced with this type of base.
For instance, a 30-amp fuse will not make contact with a 20-amp Edison base, therefore it is fool proof. This is a great added safety measure to eliminate someone just putting an oversized fuse into a fuse socket to try and keep the fuse fro blowing. The real answer is to eliminate some of the load on the circuit instead until the fuses no longer blow.The 15-amp fuse protects #14 or larger wire, the 20-amp fuse protects #12 or larger wire, and the 30-amp fuse protects #10 or larger wire.
If a circuit is overloaded, meaning beyond the preset amount of amps labeled on the fuse, the fuse blows (or opens the circuit) to protect the wires from breaking down and burning. To cure this problem, lighten the electrical load on the circuit by removing things connected to the circuit until the fuse holds.
Electrical shorts also cause fuse failure. An electrical short can be from the hot wire to ground or a hot wire to neutral. In either case, the fuse will open and shut the circuit off.
To find this problem is a little more complicated, but start with the easiest solutions and work backward to the fuse connection. Start by finding the affected circuit that is off and what is connected to it. The appliances, cords, and lighting connected to the circuit may have a short causing all of the problems.
Check cords and connections to see if you can find the problem. Next, unplug each item, one at a time, to see which is the problem with the short. Not every problem will be solved this easily though. It may be a wire in the attic or basement that a mouse chewed that is causing a short. Maybe it is insulation on a wire that has crumbled and now the bare wire is touching a grounded box? If you cannot find the problem on your own, don't hesitate to call in a professional electrician to help you find the shorted circuit.











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