A resettable fuse, also known as a positive temperature coefficient polymer fuse, trips if current flow exceeds safe levels, preventing damage to wiring and devices. It monitors temperature and resets automatically once the current flow returns to normal, protecting expensive machinery and minimizing the need for replacements. It is also known as a self-resetting fuse.
A resettable fuse is a type of electrical component more properly known as a positive temperature coefficient polymer fuse. The function of this type of fuse is to trip if a current flow greater than the amount that the wiring or device can handle is received. This effectively helps prevent damage to the wiring and any appliances or machinery that may be plugged into it. At the same time, a resettable fuse goes one step further than other types of fuses, as the component is capable of resetting itself once the supply overload is reversed and the current flow is returned to normal.
The function of a resettable fuse has two specific stages. During the first stage, the temperature generated by the current flow is analyzed to ensure that it is within an acceptable range. This is handled courtesy of the polymer coating found on the device. There are also resistive components such as carbon, allowing you to constantly monitor the temperature and current flow to make sure that the flow does not damage the wiring or connected devices. If the temperature exceeds acceptable limits, the resettable fuse cuts off the flow in the wiring, preventing any type of overload situation.
The properties of the resettable fuse continue to monitor temperature and allow current flow to be re-established only when the upper current level has dissipated and levels return to acceptable parameters. When this phenomenon is detected, the fuse will reactivate and power will be restored to the wiring and any devices connected to the wiring. Using a resettable fuse strategy in electrical systems can go a long way in protecting expensive machinery and other equipment, while minimizing the need to replace damaged wiring or machines that have been destroyed due to a surge in current. For this reason, fuses of this type are often included in many business environments, including factories and other facilities where heavy equipment is used on a regular basis.
One of the benefits of a resettable fuse is this ability to automatically sense when the current flow is normalizing again and automatically reset. From this point of view, there is a school of thought that believes that a more appropriate popular name for this type of component is the self-resetting fuse, as no manual intervention is required to activate the fuse once the crisis has passed. In addition to protecting your wiring and equipment, the resettable fuse can also save your time in terms of restoring the current flow in the most efficient way.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
