0251001.MAT1

Fuses

Objective

The objective of this article is to give an overview of the MAT1 application field and its working principle.

Background

MAT1 also termed as circuit protection device or cutout, is an electrical safety device used to protect circuits from damage due to overload of current or short circuits. It consists of a current-limiting element contained in a metallic housing. It is prepared to take on currents above its threshold without damage, and then to heat up and cut off the circuit to prevent this status. The energy is dissipated in the form of heat and light and the fuse self-destructs in the process.

Application Fields

In today’s world, a wide number of electrical devices and components use MAT1 as protection from overheating, overvoltage, and overload current. The most popular applications include automobiles, home appliances, electronic systems, communication systems, machine tooling, and many others. MAT1 is considered an important safety component and as such provides ultimate protection to the device which it is connected to. In home applications, in particular, these are usually used as the primary form of protection.

Working Principle

MAT1 functions on the principle that when a current exceeding a defined limit passes through it, its resistance increases, thereby generating more heat and therefore reducing the amount of current that it can pass. When the current passes beyond a certain level, MAT1’s resistance increases rapidly, resulting in a thermonuclear reaction. The reaction causes the material used in MAT1’s casing to reach an extremely high temperature. This rapidly expands the material and eventually breaks the housing. As the material breaks down, the current is interrupted and the circuit trip or fault is secured, thereby protecting the components from damage. The current can still be conducted through the damaged MET1, but the consequences can be fatal.

Conclusion

MAT1 has proven to be an invaluable component in today’s technologically advanced world. By providing quick protection from overload current, overheat and overvoltage, it keeps circuits safe, thereby allowing them to perform reliably. MAT1 is widely used in many application fields.