Fuses

fuse is the weak link in a circuit, which will

break when too much current flows, thus
protecting

the

circuit

conductors

from

damage. It must be remembered that the

priority of the fuse is to protect the circuit
conductors, not the appliance or the user.
Calculation

of

cable

size

therefore

automatically involves the correct selection

of protective devices.

Fuses

Fuses
There are many different types and sizes of
fuse, all designed to perform a certain
:function There are three types of fuses
The rewirable or semi-enclosed fuse. 1
The cartridge fuse and fuse link. 2
.The high-rupturing-capacity (HRC) fuse. 3

rewirable fuse
A rewirable fuse consists of a fuse, a holder, a
fuse element and a fuse carrier, the holder
and carrier being made of porcelain or
Bakelite

disadvantages
1. The fact that it is repairable enables the
wrong size of fuse wire (element) to be used.
2. The elements become weak after long
usage

and

may

break

under

normal

conditions.
3. Normal starting-current surges (e.g. when
motors, etc. are switched on) are seen by
the fuse as an overload and will therefore break
the circuit.

cartridge fuse
A cartridge fuse consists of a porcelain tube
with metal and caps to which the element is
attached. The tube is filled with silica These
fuses are found generally in modern plug
tops used with 13 A socket outlets. They have
some advantages over the rewirable fuse
they: do not deteriorate; maintain accuracy
in breaking at rated values; and do not arc
when interrupting faults . Cartridge fuses
are, however, expensive to replace.

HRC fuse
The HRC fuse is a sophisticated variation of
the cartridge fuse and is normally found
protecting

motor

circuits

and

industrial

installations. It consists of a porcelain body

filled with silica with a silver element and lug
type and caps. Another feature of HRC fuse is
the indicating element, which shows when the
fuse has blown. It is very fast-acting and can
discriminate between a starting surge and an
overload

fusing factor
In order to classify these devices, it is
important to have some
means of knowing their fusing
performance. This is achieved
for fuses by the use of a fusing factor:
where the fusing current is the minimum
current causing the fuse to blow, and the
current rating is the maximum current,
which the fuse can sustain without blowing.

fusing factor
For example, a 5 A fuse, which blows only
when 9 A flows, will have a fusing factor of
9/5 = 1.8.
Rewirable fuses have a fusing factor of
about 1.8.
Cartridge fuses have a fusing factor of
between 1.25 and 1.75.
HRC fuses have a fusing factor of up to 1.25
(maximum).

discrimination
Where more than one fuse protects a circuit
it is clearly sensible that the correct fuse
should blow under fault conditions. A fault on
the appliance should cause fuse C to blow. If
fuse B blew, although it would break the
circuit to the
faulty

appliance,

it

would

unnecessarily

render the whole radial circuit dead. If fuse A

blew, instead of B or C, all circuits from the
distribution

would

be

pointlessly

discrimination

Testing the Fuse

How fuses are marked

The amp ratings of all fuses are printed on them, but
there are two systems of rating in use.
In the latest system, the rating marked on a fuse
indicates the continuous current it can carry, while also
withstanding brief surges of up to double that strength. It
is usually called the CR (continuous resistance) rating.

Fuse replacement
A

lower

amp

fuse

emergency.......but

can

never

be
a

used

in

higher

an
amp

fuse...Higher can cause a fire or burn out:

Lower may pop and need to be replaced, but
will not cause a fire. Just as a lower amp may
simply keep blowing if what is drawing upon
it needs a higher amp draw.

Always best to