Electrical Fuses 101

Most people who are not familiar with electricitydifferent amperage rating fuse. With the different
don't know that electrical fuses protect electricaltypes of fuse bases you are unable to put a
circuits from over amperage, not over voltage.larger amp rated fuse into a smaller amp circuit.
Amps or amperage is the flow, or amount ofMany older homes also use a Edison Type W fuse
electricity. Voltage has to do with the force thewhich are becoming obsolete. These Type W
electricity current flows. A example of this wouldfuses are fast-acting, and have no time delay
be a fire hose with a nozzle delivers high pressureelement. The Type W is designed for general
(voltage), but also low volume (amperage). Thelighting and power circuits that do not run electrical
fire hydrant may have huge volume (amperage),motors. A electric motor draws more current
but will only push the water a few feet due to it'swhen it starts up and will blow the Type W fuse.
low pressure (voltage). So when you multiplyThe medium duty time delay fuses are now a
amps x volts you get the wattage.commonly used plug fuses for homes, these are
Every electrical circuit whether rated to handle acalled the "TL" and "SL" fuses. The "TL" fuse is a
large shop machine or motor, is setup to handleEdison fuse and the "SL" fuses use the rejection
specific amperage. Your wiring is also only ratedbase. These fuses are used where power surges
to handle a specified amount of amperage, if youcan occur, such as a garbage disposal.
try running too many amps through the wires,When larger motors are used in circuits or motors
they'll overheat and melt. The purpose of athat cycle on and off many times use "S" and "T"
electrical fuse or circuit breaker is to trip or blowfuses. These fuses are heavy duty time delay
before damage is done to the machine, electricalfuses, the differences are the "S" fuse uses
product, or wiring.rejection socket bases, and the "T" fuse has a
Standard Home Fuses:Edison base.
New homes have circuit breakers but many olderThe last type of home fuse is a retrofit circuit
homes have a fuse box that which fuses screwbreaker fuse are known as Minibreakers. These
into sockets similar to light bulb sockets. Therefuses convert a socket fuse into a push button
are two types of bases for sockets, the Edisoncircuit breaker, that pops out when overloaded.
Base which are Type T Fuses and the RejectionTo reset these breakers all you do is press the
Base which are Type S Fuses. The Edison Typecircuit breaker button back into position and your
T base fuse screws directly into the socket in theup and running.
fuse box. The Rejection Base Type S fuseGet more electrical fuse and circuit breakers info
actually screws into a adapter base, which lockstoday from a leading fuse supplier and keep your
the fuse into the fuse box. Each of the Type Shome safe.
fuses has a different size adapter base for each