Basic Terms You Should Understand When Working With High-Voltage Fuses
Buying high-voltage fuses is a process that should be done with care. Understanding the terms associated with fuses will help ensure you get the right piece. Here are a few terms you should understand.
High-Rupture Capacity
High-rupture capacity means a fuse has the potential to carry a short-circuit current without rupturing, which is super important if you are using the fuse in equipment that is considered high-voltage. Fuses with a high-rupture capacity may be filled with a medium like sand to protect the discharge that can come along with a short circuit.
Voltage Rating
Naturally, the voltage rating of a fuse is one of the first things you will be looking for when you shop for a high-voltage fuse. This rating tells you specifically how many volts a fuse can safely carry without generating damage to the internal elements.
With high-voltage fuses, the voltage rating is, of course, going to be higher, which means that particular fuse is going to carry a larger load than a fuse with a low-voltage rating.
Temperature Derating
When you buy a high-voltage fuse, you will notice it has a temperature rating on the package. This rating is important information to know before making your purchase because some fuses operate differently at certain temperatures.
For example, a fuse may conduct more current at a certain temperature than others, which may be important if you are placing the fuse in an outdoor environment or in an area of a structure where it would be vulnerable to hot or cold temperatures.
Element Window
Element windows have been a common implementation in high-voltage fuses for quite some time. Through the element window, you can directly see the internal element to see if the fuse has blown.
The advantage of this is not having to take the fuse out of its receptacle to determine if it is still functional. Without this window, you have to manually remove the fuse, hold it up to the light, or test it with a meter just to see if it is still good.
External Trip Indicator
The external trip indicator is a special feature that you will only find on certain high-end fuses, but it is super useful in certain applications. The external trip indicator shows you when a circuit inside the high-voltage fuse has tripped, so you will not technically have to take the fuse out to see if something is up.
For more information, contact a company such as DENCO Fuses, Inc.