Optifuse Fuses
A fuse’s primary role in a circuit is to protect equipment from overcurrent situations. An overcurrent occurs when the normal load current is exceeded in an electrical circuit. The two basic types of an overcurrent are short-circuits and overloads. A short-circuit occurs when an abnormal, low-resistance circuit path is introduced into a circuit. This low-resistance path bypasses the normal load and can create extremely high currents. An overload occurs when the current exceeds the normal full load capacity of a circuit, but no short-circuit is present. A momentary overload (in-rush current) may occur when a circuit is first initialized due to motor startup or capacitor charging. Fuses used for short-circuit protection must interrupt the fault immediately (usually less than 4 milliseconds). Fuses used for overload protection can have a slower reaction time (seconds or even minutes compared to milliseconds).
Optifuse FSC fast-acting fuses are glass tubes with metal caps at both ends and a thin metal strip inside. When an overcurrent flows through it, the wire strip melts, automatically interrupting the power supply. The fuse must be replaced once it is blown. The fuses are amp-rated, indicating the limit of the current volume that can pass through the circuit without blowing the fuse. Fast-acting fuses are commonly used in consumer electronics and appliances that are very sensitive to any overcurrent situation.
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