When it comes to electrical circuits, systems and setups, safety is of the utmost importance. The humble little fuse carries a lot of weight when it comes to providing the necessary safety measures to protect circuits against overcurrent or overloads. If left unchecked, power surges can cause serious damage to appliances, or even lead to fires, which can have devastating consequences.

There are a number of factors that can cause an overcurrent, such as the aforementioned power surges (a real risk in times of loadshedding), configuration faults, short circuits and electrical arcs, to name a few. When these occur, leading to a current that is stronger than expected for the circuit, the fuse is designed to blow, which effectively breaks the circuit. This occurs through a very simple process: the typical fuse is installed as a link in an electrical circuit and contains a thin metal wire or strip (resistor). When excess current flows through this resistor, it generates heat, which melts the wire, causing it to break and stop the flow of dangerous voltage.

While the function of a fuse and a circuit breaker are very similar, the difference is that a circuit breaker is a switch that can be reset after breaking an electrical circuit, while most fuses can only be used once and have to be replaced after they blow.

Most commonly used fuses:

• AC fuses – As the name suggests, these fuses are used to protect alternating current circuits. These circuits are common in offices and households, especially in appliances like fridges and aircons.
• DC fuses – These fuses are used to protect direct current circuits often found in battery-powered devices and solar panels.
• Cartridge fuses – These fuses come in various sizes and are suitable for low voltage circuits.
• Thermal fuses – These fuses are used to protect appliances like coffee machines and hair dryers from overheating.

If you are looking for a specific electrical fuse – including those mentioned above and many more – contact Switch Electrical Supplies today.