Fuse Vs. Breaker

[rndoltappl]

Fuses are typically faster than breakers and usually put on sensitive electrical components vs a breaker like you would put on a motor or lighting circuit

[joshuaharris]

Don’t forget about gel fuses. Limit current that passes through but are reusable and reset themselves after overloaded

[midnightrider]

I use them at our industrial shop. The way that I decide which to use is if im using it on a something like an electric pallet jack that will be serviced a lot and have a higher chance discontinuing the electrical current either accidently or on purpose for testing electrical issues ect. Then I would most def use a resetable breaker to save money. But on our semi trucks I use a 150amp heavy duty FUSE so it will just blow if there is an electrical short on the batteries and noone is right there ot disconnect them to prevent explosion. Because If there was an issue you wouldn't want a trucker to just "reset it" and cause a fire or worse. Just how I decide. 🤔

[mdouglaswray]

There's a wonderful scene in Titanic where the ships engineering crew is desperately trying to keep the lights on by forcing breakers shut until one explodes into a guy's face. Never force a breaker closed if it keeps popping.

[michaelross]

Fuses are also handy to where if you have say a 50 amp existing circuit but your equipment needs 25 amps, you can put a fusable disconnect with 25 amp fuses to protect the device without having to change the breaker or wire

[evilhamsterman]

Size also plays into it. Fuses can be fit into a small plug

[lateefcarrere]

As far as rabbit holes go, this would be worth it 👍

[hobbesip]

There are more advanced circuit breakers that trip for more than just over current. There's GFCI, which detect when the current is imbalanced between hot and neutral, indicating a short to ground. There's arc breakers, which can sense an arc in the circuit, preventing wiring fires. I'm sure there's others.

[Ttvstingygingie]

My past job we would have actuators sent in from the company and we would inspect and tear down, one 480 3 phase was sent in and I forgot to check connections, well I went to test it and all I remember was touching the actuator and touching the table and just immediately blacked out

[josephhoffman]

I build industrial control panels these two are the bane of my existence

[paulvild]

Another Factor is how quickly a fuse reacts as compared to a circuit breaker. But I'm no expert. I do know whenever I design circuits I always use circuit breakers because I want to make it so that you don't have to waste money on what can be expensive fuses.

[jasonwakewich]

What about thermal breakers n fuses n
Motor protection devices n other over current devices n mabe toss in mechanical fuses also probably should let people know that breakers are not switches and using a breaker like a switch will ware it out and lower its current carrying capacity

[karlmiller]

I have been told that a fuse will blow sooner than a breaker for better protection of the equipment

[dwhallon]

Some of those bigger fuses are quite expensive. I have bought both and like you said fuses can. Get expensive

[michaeltwitty]

Could you adapt a vehicle to run on breakers of appropriate current limiting value instead of the factory fuses?

[turboflush]

Some guys in my shop call the fuse a limiter.

[christophercollins]

What, if any, is the technical bennefit to fuses over breakers or is it simply cost?

[daniellunn]

He'll ya brother, love the videos

[matthewhoffman]

Dont know if this is the same or not but something I've been curious of is fuseable links, are they just a wire that acts like a fuse?
I've seen them mentioned in auto repair books but I haven't heard what they actually do

[lidlett]

They are known as over current protection devices