Cumulus electrique?
Oct 31st 2012 | 3:48 am
#16
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 12,053
From: In the middle of 10million Olive Trees
Re: Cumulus electrique?
Not disagreeing with you but I read on a UK electricians' forum that the fuse protected the power lead to the appliance.
i.e. the fuse was rated on the capacity of the power lead to prevent burning etc.
The capacity of the power lead also depends on the requirements of the appliance.
As I said, I am not disagreeing with your comment - it is just a slightly different (and interesting) way to think about it.
i.e. the fuse was rated on the capacity of the power lead to prevent burning etc.
The capacity of the power lead also depends on the requirements of the appliance.
As I said, I am not disagreeing with your comment - it is just a slightly different (and interesting) way to think about it.
In electronics and electrical engineering, a fuse (from the French fuser, Italian fuso, "spindle"[1]) is a type of low resistance resistor that acts as a sacrificial device to provide overcurrent protection, of either the load or source circuit. Its essential component is a metal wire or strip that melts when too much current flows, which interrupts the circuit in which it is connected. Short circuit, overloading, mismatched loads or device failure are the prime reasons for excessive current.
A fuse interrupts excessive current (blows) so that further damage by overheating or fire is prevented. Wiring regulations often define a maximum fuse current rating for particular circuits. Overcurrent protection devices are essential in electrical systems to limit threats to human life and property damage. Fuses are selected to allow passage of normal current plus a marginal percentage and to allow excessive current only for short periods. Slow blow fuses are designed to allow harmless short term higher currents but still clear on a sustained overload. Fuses are manufactured in a wide range of current and voltage ratings and are widely used to protect wiring systems and electrical equipment. Self-resetting fuses automatically restore the circuit after the overload has cleared; these are useful, for example, in aerospace or nuclear applications where fuse replacement is impossible
(courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuse_(electrical))
if you fit a 13A fuse to a 1A device it is highly unlikely to blow, but fitting a 5A fuse to a 13A device then it will keep on blowing as it is pulling more current than the fuse can handle.
So the correct fuse for the duty should be fitted
Regrettably one must assume the lead being used is suitable for the duty. but usually it is multi-strand copper against the specially constructed fuse.
Even if the cable is correct winding it up in a tight bundle as in Jo-Jo reels and similar will cause inductance and the whole bundle will start getting warm, then hot then the insulation will start melting - with a very loud bang and the potential for fire.
I am a UK qualified PAT tester and I have seen some really appalling examples including a mains circuit using 5v bell wire
As I think I have said before - just use common sense, be careful, be methodical and don't switch anything on without double checking it is correct
IF IN DOUBT - ASK.
