Fuse Holders: All You Need to Know

Built-in circuit protection is frequently used while designing electronic devices. In the event of a circuit overload, the main purpose is to protect both the equipment and the equipment operator. Circuit breakers and fuses are the two common ways that this protection is provided. An automatic switch known as a circuit breaker stops the flow of electricity when it becomes suddenly overloaded or unusually stressed. Fuse technology is still widespread and practical even though circuit breakers are becoming more prevalent in 12-volt system design. A fuse is a safety mechanism that guards against too much electricity flowing through an electric circuit. In today’s blog, we are going to talk about everything you need to know about fuse holders.

What is a Fuse Holder?

As the name suggests, a fuse holder is a component that holds an electrical fuse. They come in a variety of designs, each specifically made for a certain fuse. The size and design of a fuse holder are directly related to the type and current rating of the fuse that it is intended to hold. For instance, a blade fuse won’t fit in a fuse holder that uses a cartridge. Many fuses and fuse holders include special characteristics that prohibit fuses of the right style but the wrong current rating from being placed in the holder in order to assist prevent electrical harm. In addition, while some fuse holder models provide manual removal of the fuse, others call for the use of a special tool.

Types of Fuse Holders

The four electric fuse holder types are, Printed circuit board (PCB) fuse clips, printed circuit board fuse holders, panel mount fuse holders, and in-line fuse holders.

• PCB Fuse Clips – Most economical, with the lowest buying price but the fewest features, are PCB fuse clips. Despite having a wide range of applications, they typically need to be protected from the outside environment by insulation and isolation.
• PCB Fuse Holders – Most economical, with the cheapest buying price but the fewest features, are PCB fuse holders. Even though they are applied in a wide range of applications, they have to be protected by insulation from the outer environment..
• Panel Mount Fuse Holders – When mounted through an enclosure or on the backplane of an enclosure, these fuse holders, which are typically wire-in, wire-out/line, and load, can shield people from electrical dangers.
• In-Line Fuse Holders – These self-contained wire harnesses, which come in wire-in, wire-out/line, and load varieties, provide a broad variety of application possibilities. They can make fuses more difficult to access or enable easy fuse replacement, depending on the designer’s goal and where they are placed.

How Does A Fuse Holder work

Fuse holders, a sort of fuse accessory, are essentially devices that absorb incoming electricity and help it flow as efficiently through the fuse as feasible. By doing this, there is a chance that further features will be incorporated into the assembly, adding functionality that will benefit the OEM or the final consumer. Here are a few examples of typical fuse accessory parts:

• The fuse accessory’s terminals are in charge of both receiving current from the circuit and returning it to the circuit.
• Contacts, which are frequently in the form of a clip or an eyelet, are in charge of interacting with the fuse to deliver current to and from the fuse.
• Different fuse holders may have additional parts, although they vary depending on the type of product.

Certifications/Quality Standards for a fuse holder

The fuse carrier with a knurled cap, which enables users of UL/CSA-compliant fuse holders to access and change a fuse without the need for tools, is a standard feature. To lessen the risk of electrical shock to a non-technical user, various international equipment standards restrict the degree of user accessibility to a fuse holder. The tool is required to open the limited access fuse holder (usually a screwdriver). Additionally, it has additional insulation and insulating barriers to keep live things out while changing fuses.

Fuse holders have received certifications and ratings from UL, CSA, BSI, VED, IEC (UMF), SEMKO, and Dentori.

• The UL Listing ensures that a fuse has been produced in strict accordance with UL 248-14. c-UL Listing, c-UL Recognition, c-UL-us Listing, and c-UL-us Recognition does not signify that UL-248-14 is fully complied with.
• A fuse or fuse holder with CSA Canadian certification has been produced under the CSA C22.2 No. 248.14 or CSA C22.2 No. 39 standard, respectively, in full.
• The IEC 60127 (BS 4265) standard was fully adhered to when a fuse was created, according to the BSI British clearance.
• A fuse or fuse holder was made in full compliance with the applicable IEC 60127 standard, according to the VDE German clearance.
• Universal Modular Fuses (UMF) that have been confirmed to comply with IEC 60127-4 have received IEC approval.
• A fuse or fuse holder has been manufactured in full accordance with the applicable section of the IEC 60127 standard if SEMKO Swedish clearance has been granted.

Why Buy Fuse Holders?

Almost all electrical circuits have the potential to experience unanticipated, harmful overcurrent events, and in many of those circumstances, overcurrent circuit protection is required to properly handle those events. Fuses are the most typical overcurrent defense. Due to their size and design, many readily available electronic fuses can’t be put into conducting channels. To integrate these fuses with a few key functionalities, a fuse accessory is typically needed.

Fuse holders have three main purposes: they safely integrate fuses into electrical circuits, guarantee a strong current channel, and give a way to replace fuses once they effectively handle overcurrent situations. 

Class CC, J, and Midget fuses can be installed safely and easily using fuse holders. These fuse holders are great for wire protection, group protection of small motor loads, and small motor load protection.

Cost

For each fuse holder, you should be prepared to spend between $10 and $35. The price of a fuse holder varies depending on a number of factors such as the size, the design, and the customization requirements.

Installation

You’ll need a few tools to properly install fuses, so be sure to have them on hand. The proper amperage-rated fuse holder is also necessary, as are a pair of wire cutting and stripping pliers, crimping pliers, butt-splice crimp connections, and so forth. When you have everything you need, carefully carry out these steps to install a fuse holder:

• Remove your device’s plug from the outlet.
• Cut the positive wire that is nearest to your circuit with the wire-cutting pliers.
• Cut a quarter-inch from the ends of the split wires and the fuse holder using the wire-stripping pliers. When stripping the wires, keep them tight to prevent harm to the fuse’s internal parts.
• Your circuit wires should be spiralized to make the stripped ends more solid and attachable.
• Twisted circuit wire should be inserted into the butt-splice crimp connector using the crimping pliers.
• The fuse holder wires should be inserted into the other end of the butt-splice connection using the crimping pliers on either end. Make sure the connections at both ends are tight.
• Twist the leading device wire and insert it into a butt-splice connection while gripping the wire.
• The other wire end of the fuse holder should be twisted, inserted into the butt splice connected to the wire going to the device, and then crimped down.
• The fuse holder should be filled with the correct amperage fuse before you combine the two sections and secure them.
• Fix the power source for your gadget.

Troubleshooting And Solutions

Melted Fuse Holder

If the fuse holder melted but the fuse itself hadn’t blown, that means the fuse holder wasn’t making good contact with the fuse. When using fuse holders of inferior quality, loose connections are frequent. They can allow dirt and dust to collect in between the contact points and cause a voltage loss because they don’t make enough contact with the fuse.

Current passing through resistance in a circuit will always create heating. A current much below the fuse rating can generate enough heat to melt an inline fuse holder if there is substantial resistance in the contact between the fuse and fuse holder.

It’s possible that the electrical fuse doesn’t always heat up right away. Although the initial resistance might be lower and the heating might not be sufficient to reach the melting point of the fuse, the heating can oxidize the metal connections, increasing contact resistance.

This quickens the healing process to the point that there is an “avalanche” of quickly rising temperatures and rising resistance, resulting in what can seem to be an unexpected failure even sometime after installation. The short answer is no, it wasn’t the power cables pulling too much current that caused the fuse holder to melt; it was a lost connection.

Solution

Always use high-quality battery fuses and fuse holders when installing battery management systems and battery chargers. This will provide a solid connection between the wires going to your fuse holder, giving you confidence that your charger or power source is operating well.

While the common automotive blade type fuses and holders might work OK at lesser currents (such as 5–10A), it’s crucial to use high-quality fuses and fuse holders for currents of 20A or more.

Conclusion

Devices called fuse holders are used to mount, confine, and safeguard fuses. There are two primary types of fuse holders: open and completely enclosed. Fuse clips, fuse blocks, sockets, and plug-on caps are examples of open fuse holder types. The fully enclosed type may feature additional methods for completely enclosing the fuse, such as a fuse carrier that is put into a holder. If you want to learn more about fuse holders, contact Beny.