Overcurrent Protection
Equipment and the components and circuitry which make up the equipment, are engineered to operate per set specifications. For electrical or electronic equipment, current and the heat produced by energy losses which occurs with current flow due to inefficiencies in the components or conductors, must be monitored. Overcurrent protection provides for this monitoring in order to make sure actual current flow utilized by any piece of equipment does not exceed its rating or specification. If current exceeds the specifications, then the overcurrent device opens the circuit and current no longer has a complete path between the power source and the load. Without this protection, damage to the equipment or any surrounding objects, including human would occur. Providing protection with correct fault current and voltage levels is key.
Fuses are one type of overcurrent device. All fuses are not the same, voltage and response times as well as current size should be considered when selecting a fuse. Understanding fuse characteristics is key to correct protection for equipment.
Circuit breakers just like fuses come with different specifications and a solid understanding of them is necessary for the correct selection. Additionally in today's world counterfeit parts are being introduced causing much harm to those who use them.
E & W Electrical, LLC
515 Meadowland Drive
Suite 100
Hillsborough, NC 27278
919-245-0200 (office)
919-245-0202 (facsimile)
888-919-5210 (toll free)
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