15087 Datasheet/PDFFuseholders are devices used to protect circuits from conduction and damage caused by over-current or short circuits. Fuses are commonly available in a range of sizes and types, such as blade, ferrule, plug-in, and clip-on types. Fuseholders come in a variety of styles, sizes and mounting configurations for almost any fuse. They are often found in automotive, industrial, commercial, and residential spaces.
Types of Fuseholders include surface mount, PCB mount, panel mount, and DIN mounting. Surface-mount fuseholders offer low-profile design and are found on printed circuit boards, and are suitable for a wide variety of automotive, industrial, and other applications. PCB-mount fuseholders offer a secure relationship between printed circuits and the fuse element, providing reliable over-current protection for the circuit. Panel mount fuseholders are used in a variety of applications, such as relays, switches, and AC circuits, and provide a direct connection between the source and the circled equipment. DIN mounting fuseholders are used in European standard DINRail enclosures, and are available in both surface and PCB-mounted versions.
Fuseholders come in a variety of materials to fit different environments, from brass terminals in thermoplastic housing to zinc die-cast housings in plated steel parts. The features of fuseholders depend on the type of fuse they are designed for, and include features such as high-current capacities, shock and vibration resistance, and waterproof or explosion-proof construction. Fuseholders also have various connectors, such as plug-in (including plug-in with soldered leads), screw (including screw-and-nut) or screw-less design, and crimp-on terminals.
The working principle of fuseholders is simple and effective. When the current flowing through a circuit exceeds the rating of the fuse, the fuse quickly melts, thus breaking the circuit, protecting the components of the circuit from possible damage due to excessive current and ensuring the safety of its operator. Different fuses feature different thresholds and ratings, and some are designed to be more sensitive to dangerous surges than others. The most common working principle is for the fuse to heat up when too much current passes through it, causing it to melt and break the current’s flow.
Fuseholders provide an essential protective service for the safety of circuits and machines. The wide variety of fuseholders, with varying sizes for different fuses and types of mounting, ensures that there is a model for any application.