Fuses are among the most important elements of an electrical circuit, because they are like a malfunction warning system. For many reasons, they may "jump". They must then be replaced without further delay. Here's how.
The fuse is usually made up of an insulating case and a metal wire made of aluminium, zinc or silver. Integrating an electrical panel, this device is placed upstream of a power source. In addition, all electrical devices are also equipped with fuses. Its main function is to protect our electrical installations, but also our household appliances and electronics, from sudden overvoltages and short circuits.
In fact, faced with too high a current load and under the effect of very high heat, its conductive filament melts, thus preventing the flow of electricity in the circuit:we then say that the fuse has "jumped" . By reducing the intensity of the current to zero, the fuse then reduces the risk of fire and damage to our equipment.
Furthermore, the damage caused by overloading is only limited to the alloy wire contained in the fuse. For this purpose, once the latter has been replaced, the circuit can be immediately restarted without the need for further repairs, provided that it is known why the fuse has blown:untimely electrical overload or an actual short circuit somewhere to be repaired. It is important to emphasize that the fuse does not protect against electrocution.
In recent years, traditional fuses have given way to resettable circuit breakers . Resistors took the place of filaments. Their particularity? After the cut, the electrical circuit restarts automatically as soon as the current has stabilized. These new models of fuses are however much criticized because of their great sensitivity to the slightest variations in electrical intensity.
There is no point in changing a blown fuse until you have identified the origins of the power cut. Indeed, for sure, the circuit breaker will jump again as soon as the current returns. That is why the first thing to do is to find the cause. Two possibilities can then arise, namely either damaged electrical equipment or an overload when there are too many devices connected to a single power source. In both cases, it is necessary to first identify the fuse causing the fault.
Some models are fitted with indicators which lose their red color in the event of a fault. In the absence of this pellet or a broken filament, there is no other choice than to test each fuse one by one using a multimeter. On the voltmeter, opt for the "continuity test" function. Place the two probes on the ends of the fuse. If there is a short beep, the device is still working. Otherwise, the fuse has blown.
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, gently remove it. Some fuses are protected by a cartridge holder which will have to be unclipped to release the fuse. It is strongly recommended to replace it with a model of the same caliber with the same amperage. You will find this information on the fuse body or ends. However, for people who are unfamiliar with it, it would be wiser to go to the store with the defective model.
