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. 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 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

Cylindrical fuses are a basic design and many of the most widely used and familiar models fall within this category. HRC Fuse Types 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 Fuses

Halfords Glass Fuse 10 Amp (FUSE117)

Most UK plugs are fitted with a 3 amp or 13 amp fuse. 3 amp fuses are used with a range of lower power domestic goods and tools, including lamps, TVs, and drills. Meanwhile, higher power goods such as washing machines, kettles and toasters normally require a 13 amp fuse. What Happens When a Fuse Blows?

HRC Fuse Types High rupturing capacity (HRC) fuses feature a transparent capsule around the central resistor. Fast 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 The time taken for a particular type of fuse to blow is called the fuse speed. The three principal fuse speeds available are: 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.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. 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. The definition of a D-type fuse is a miniature circuit breaker that trips when the current exceeds the rated level by between ten and 20 times. Therefore, a 16 amp Type D breaker will trip if the current reaches between 160 and 320 amps. Type F Fuses 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: