Switch fuse units distribute current while shielding cables and devices from the damage that would be caused by power fluctuations along a particular electrical circuit. Switch fuse units are used in industrial and commercial buildings as well as domestic properties. Fuses and circuit breakers serve a very similar function - both break electrical circuits in the event of a current surge or short circuit. However, there is a crucial difference. Circuit breakers are switches, and like all switches, they can be reset once they have been flipped. Most fuses, though, can only be used a single time. Once they have blown, they must be replaced. They are, by definition, a weak link - entirely by design. The time taken for a particular type of fuse to blow is called the fuse speed. The three principal fuse speeds available are: Unsurprisingly for such a widely used component, fuses are available in a multitude of models and voltage capacities for use in different industrial, manufacturing and electronic settings. Resettable SMD fuses, by contrast, can be used multiple times. They function in a similar way to resettable thermal fuses and are available in multiple sizes and capacities. Striker Fuses

When a fuse blows, the electrical supply to a particular circuit is immediately cut off. This lowers the risk of fire and prevents damage to the wiring. The blown fuse can safely be replaced without the risk of electrocution. Are Old Fuse Boxes Illegal? The rating of fuse fitted within a plug depends on the power rating of the device to which it is attached. The fuse must be compatible with currents slightly higher than those used to operate the device.Obtain the tools you will need - typically fuse wire, wire cutters, a screwdriver and a torch so you can see what you are doing A Type C fuse is actually a type of miniature circuit breaker (MCB). MCBs are a type of circuit breaker used with lower-powered circuits to cut off current in the event of an overload. Type C fuses trip circuits when the current exceeds the rated one by between five and ten times - i.e. at 100-500 amps for a 20amp device. Type D Fuses Once you have replaced any necessary powerpoint fuses, locate your fuse box, using your torch if necessary. Ensure that the master switch is in the off position. It should be following a trip, but you should always make sure that this is the case Slow Acting fuses include a delay mechanism that allows short, lower power electrical surges to pass through the circuit without the fuse blowing. They are also known as Slow Blow or Time Delay fuses. Dual Element fuses feature a higher performance delay mechanism

Despite their everyday name, domestic fuse boxes now typically contain circuit breakers rather than fuses, and they are more formally known as consumer panels. However, if your property still contains a traditional model, here is how to go about changing the wire in a fuse if it blows and cuts the power to one of the circuits that run through the building. Cylindrical fuses are a basic design and many of the most widely used and familiar models fall within this category. HRC Fuse Types HRC Fuse Types High rupturing capacity (HRC) fuses feature a transparent capsule around the central resistor. Striker fuses are fuses fitted with a spring-loaded striking device that can trip adjacent switches and also indicate that a fuse has blown. Type C FusesFast Acting Fuses: these are a more general-purpose fuse typically used with cabling and sturdier components. They are also known as Fast Blow or F-Type fuses For example, if an electric drill requiring a new fuse has a 700-watt rating, divide this by 230 (the standard UK mains voltage). The result is 3.04, so you will require a 3A amp fuse for the plug. Where Would a Type D Fuse Be Installed? Surface mount devices (SMDs) are electrical components that sit on the surface of printed circuit boards (PCBs). SMD fuses are available in both resettable and non-resettable forms. Fuse boxes can essentially be explained as control panels for the electrical system in a particular location. They are the location at which incoming power is divided into separate circuits. Typically, they feature a central switch controlling: Ultra-rapid fuses: typically used in sensitive circuitry and transistors to protect against short circuits, reacting almost instantaneously. These are also known as Very Fast Acting, Super Rapid and High-Speed fuses