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ELECTROTECHNICS
Types of fuses

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 Objective: To identify the types of fuses.

Content:
1. DC fuses
2. AC fuses
3. Cartridge fuses
4. D-type cartridge fuses
5. HRC fuses

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 Did you know that…
A variety of wire or foil fusible elements were in use to protect

telegraph cables and lighting

installations as early as 1864. A fuse

was patented by Thomas Edison in 1890

as part of his electric

distribution system.

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 1. DC fuses
A device whose main function is to protect
the circuit when it is accompanied by a
continuous increase in current. When the
current in the circuit exceeds a certain
value, the fuse will be broken by the heat
generated by it, thus the entire circuit will be
disconnected. The internal structure of the DC fuse is made of metal
with a lower melting point.

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 2. AC fuses

Air Conditioning (AC) fuses are a little bit small

in size as compared to DC fuses as they oscillate
at about 50-60 times every second from
minimum to maximum. Because of this, the
chances of arc between the melted wires is
eliminated. Hence, they can be parked in small sizes.

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 3. Cartridge fuses

Used to protect electrical appliances such as motors, air-

conditions, refrigerator, pumps, etc, where
high voltage rating and currents are required.
Are available up to 600A and 600V AC.
There are two types:
1. General purpose fuse with no time delay.
2. Heavy-duty cartridge fuses with time delay.

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 Both are available in 250V AC to 600V AC
4. D – type cartridge fuse

They contain an adapter ring, base, cap

and cartridge and is connected to the

fuse cap where the cartridge is inside the

fuse cap. The circuit is completed when the

tip of the cartridge makes

contacts through the fuse link conductor.

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 5. High Rupturing Capacity (HRC) fuse
The fuse wire carries a short circuit
current in a set period. If the fault
occurs in the circuit then it blows off. It
is made with glass otherwise some other
kind of chemical compound.
At both sides of the fuse, the ceramic
enclosure is made with a metal cap which
is welded with fusible silver wire.

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 6. High Voltage Fuses
High Voltage (HV) fuses are used in
power systems to protect the power
transformer, distribution transformers
and instrument transformer where
circuit breakers may not be able to
protect the system. They are rated for
more than 1500V and up to 13kV and are
generally made of copper, silver or tin.

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 7. Automotive, Blade & Bolted Fuses
Also known as spade or plug-in fuses
come in plastic body and two metal caps
to fit in the socket. Mostly, they are used
in automobiles for wiring and short
circuit protection. Fuse limiters, glass tube
(also known as Bosch fuse) are widely used
in automotive industries. The rating of
automobile fuses are low as 12V to 42V.

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 8. SMD, Chip , Radial, and Lead fuses

SMD (Surface Mount Device) and SMT

(Surface Mount Technology) are chip
types (also known as electronic fuse)
used in DC power applications like Hard
drive, DVD players, camera, cell phones,
etc. where space plays an important role
because SMD fuses are very tinny in size and hard to replace as well.

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 9. Rewireable Fuses
The kit-kat or rewireable fuse is mostly used in industries and
home electrical wiring for small current
applications in Low Voltage (LV) systems.
Contains 2 basic parts: The inner fuse element as
fuse carrier made of tinned copper, lead or
aluminum and the base made of porcelain having
the IN and OUT terminals which is used to be in

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 series with the circuit to protect. Its main advantage is that can be
rewired easily in case it is blown.

10. Thermal Fuses

Also known as Thermal Cutouts (TCO) or Thermal Links they are
a one time used only fuse. They are made of
temperature sensitive alloy. The fuse element
holds a mechanical spring contact which is
normally closed. When high currents due to over
current and short circuit flow through the elements

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 of the fuse, the fuse elements melts down which lead to release the
spring mechanism and prevent fire.

11. Resettable Fuses

Polymeric positive temperature coefficient device (PPTC), poly-
switch, poly-fuse or resettable fuse is a
passive electronic component used to protect
against short current faults in electronic
circuits. They open the circuit when an over
current event occurs and after some specific time
they connect the circuit again. Its application is to
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 overcome where manually replacing fuses is difficult or almost
impossible.

Uses and Applications of Fuses

Electrical and Electronic Fuses can be used in
all types of electrical and electronic systems
and applications such as:
Air-conditions Hard disk drives
Laptops Power convertors
Cell phones Game systems
Digital cameras Portable Electronics
LCD monitors Printers
Scanners
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Battery packs
 Quiz
1. HV fuse mean:
a. High Volume b. High Voltage c. Huge Voltage d. High
Volatile
2. Also known as plug-in fuses.
a. High Voltage b. Thermal c. Rewireable d. Automotive
3. SMT stands for:
a. Support Mount Technology b. Surface Mount Technology c. Surface Mount
4. Also known as kit-kat fuses. Technique

a. Resettable b. Thermal c. Rewireable d. High Voltage

5. Also known as Poly-switch fuses.
a. Resettable b. Thermal c. Rewireable d. High Voltage

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 Quiz
1. HV fuse mean:
a. High Volumec. Huge b. High Voltage Voltage d. High Volatile
2. Also known as plug-in fuses.
a. High Voltage b. Thermal c. Rewireable d.
Automotive
3. SMT stands for:
a. Support Mount Technologyc. b. Surface MountSurface Mount Technique
Technology
4. Also known as kit-kat fuses.
a. Resettable b. Thermald.
c. High Voltage
Rewireable
5. Also known as Poly-switch fuses.
a. b. Thermal c. Rewireable d. High Voltage
Resettable

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 Conclusions
A fuse is an electric / electronic or mechanical device, used to protect
circuits from over current, overload and ensure the protection of the circuit.
Electric fuse was invented by Thomas Alva Edison in 1890. Fuse consists of
a low resistance metallic wire enclosed in a non combustible material. It is
used to connect and install in series with a circuit and device which needs to
be protected from short circuit and over current. The working principle is
based on the “Heating effect of Current”. Whenever a short circuit, over

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 current or mismatched load connection occurs, the thin wire inside the fuse
melts because of the heat generated by the heavy current flowing through it.

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