Fuses: Guardians of Circuit Safety

Against the backdrop of the rapid development of modern electrical technology, the importance of fuses as guardians of circuit safety cannot be ignored. Fuses, seemingly simple electrical components, are responsible for ensuring circuit safety and preventing equipment damage. This article will provide a detailed introduction to the working principle, common types, application fields, and industry status of fuses.

The working principle of fuses

 The working principle of a fuse is quite simple, based on the thermal effect of current. When the current in the circuit exceeds the specified value, the melt inside the fuse will melt due to overheating, thereby cutting off the circuit and avoiding damage to the equipment caused by overcurrent. This self-protection mechanism makes the fuse one of the circuit's most basic and effective safety protection components.

Common types of fuses

There are various types of fuses, which can be divided into the following types based on their structure, purpose, and performance characteristics:

1. Plug-in fuse: commonly used at the end of circuits with voltage levels of 380V and below, as a short-circuit protection for distribution branches or electrical equipment.

2. Spiral fuse: There is a fuse indicator on the upper cover of the melt. Once the melt melts, the indicator will pop out, making it convenient for users to observe. It is commonly used in electrical control equipment of machine tools.

3. Closed type fuses:  divided into two types: filled fuses and unfilled fuses. Stuffed fuses have strong breaking ability and are used in circuits with voltage levels below 500V and current levels below 1KA; Sealed fuses without fillers are used in power grids or distribution equipment below 500V and 600A.

4. Quick fuse: mainly used for short-circuit protection of semiconductor rectifier components or rectifier devices. Its fast melting speed, high-rated current, and strong breaking ability make it an ideal protector for semiconductor components.

5. Self-resetting fuse: Using metallic sodium as the melt, it has high conductivity at room temperature. When a short circuit fault occurs in the circuit, the short circuit current generates high temperature, causing sodium to rapidly vaporize and the gaseous sodium to exhibit a high resistance state, thereby limiting the short circuit current. Its advantage is that there is no need to replace the melt and it can be reused.

Application fields of fuses

Fuses are widely used in power systems, various electrical equipment, and household appliances. In terms of motor protection, fuses can provide overload protection during motor startup, automatically cutting off the circuit when the current exceeds the rated value, protecting the safe operation of the motor. In terms of electronic device protection, fuses can be used to protect electronic devices from the impact of overload currents. Once the current exceeds the set value, the fuse will quickly cut off the circuit, protecting the safety of electronic devices. In addition, fuses also play an important role in fields such as new energy vehicles, photovoltaic, wind power, and energy storage, becoming an essential safety protection device in the circuit system of new energy electric vehicles.

Current situation of the fuse industry

With the continuous development of electrical technology and the expansion of application fields, the fuse industry has also ushered in opportunities for rapid development. The country's support for the fuse and its downstream application market continues to increase, and the market size of the fuse industry continues to expand. The fuse industry has ushered in new development opportunities, especially with the rapid rise of new energy

fields such as new energy vehicles, photovoltaic, and wind power. However, currently, fuse manufacturers in China have a relatively small business scale and mainly focus on the mid to low-end market. It is necessary to strengthen technological innovation and industrial upgrading and improve product quality and market competitiveness.

In short, as the guardian of circuit safety, fuses play a crucial role in modern electrical technology. With the continuous progress of technology and the expansion of application fields, the fuse industry will usher in a broader development prospect.