170M8650 Datasheet/PDFThe 170M8650 specialty fuse is a factory sealed, single-phase, midget type fuse used to protect electrical circuits. These low-voltage, economical fuse-links are designed in the United States and used in a variety of applications, both domestically and internationally. Their unique design makes them ideal for a range of applications, such as general electrical, industrial, and hazardous locations.
Application Fields
The 170M8650 fuses feature Current Limiting characteristics, which makes them the preferred choice for overcurrent protection. This makes them well-suited for a wide range of applications, from industrial applications with high inrush currents, to energy-saving lighting applications, to highly critical protection against fault currents due to short circuits. This versatility makes them especially popular as a “universal” fuse.
The 170M8650 fuse is also an excellent choice for instrumentation and/or low-energy circuits, as its low degrading arc current allows it to be applied in ultra-sensitive protection applications. The fuse is well-suited for both ac and dc applications.
Additionally, the fuse’s compact size, robust size/breaking capacity ratio, and high quality make it an ideal choice for a variety of environments, from industrial to commercial to residential. Its low-profile design fits into narrow switchboards, and its sealed construction provides improved safety and environmental protection.
Working Principle
The primary job of the 170M8650 fuse is to limit overloads in electrical systems. An overload is basically an excessive amount of electrical current that could cause damage or injury. It is therefore essential that the fuse be able to quickly detect and interrupt such an overload. The fuse works by utilizing a fuse element embedded within an envelope.The fuse element has a metal filaments that carries the current of the circuit. When the fuse element experiences an excessive current which can damage the equipment or cause injury, the fuse element heats up, melting the filament, and opens the circuit, breaking the current.
Another important factor of the working principle of a fuse is the “let-through current”. This is the amount of time that it takes for the fuse to react to an overload, and interrupt the current. The shorter the let-through current, the faster the fuse can protect the electrical equipment from a potentially hazardous overload. The 170M8650 specialty fuse has a very quick response time and thus a very low let-through current, making it an excellent option for over-current protection.
The 170M8650 specialty fuse is designed to allow high contact reliability and good cycling capability, making it well-suited for utilization in repetitive startups as its filaments are made from a special alloy that allows the fuse to tolerate the stress associated with such high-cycling applications. Furthermore, the internal design of the fuse ensures proper contact area and alignment.
Conclusion
The 170M8650 specialty fuse is a low-voltage, economical fuse-link designed in the United States. It is used as an over-current protection device, and is well-suited for a variety of applications, including industrial, hazardous locations, instrumentation, and energy-saving lighting. It features a low let-through current and a filament made from a special alloy which allows high contact reliability and good cycling capability. Its sealed construction provides improved safety and environmental protection.