Electrical, Specialty Fuses

This Product Selection Guide contains information to help select products in the Electrical, Specialty Fuses category on DigiKey.com

Products in this family are used for over-current fault protection, and function on the basis of current flow in excess of a desired maximum causing the destruction of a conductive element within the device. They are distinguished from common fuses by one of several factors; bearing a non-supplementary classification under the UL248 standard, certification for use in hazardous or explosive environments, or a form factor other than those commonly encountered in products used for supplementary equipment protection such as those with an indication function or fusible cable links, and fuses designated for specific applications such as protection of telecommunications circuits or multimeters.


SelectionCharacteristics

Mounting Type: Indicates how the device is attached.

Fuse Type: Describes a product’s physical form or style.

Current Rating (Amps): Indicates the current level at which the fuse is designed to open, i.e. a 15A-rated fuse will burn open and break the circuit when current levels in the circuit rise to 15A.

Voltage Rating - AC: Typically this represents the maximum AC voltage rating to which a device will meet its given specifications. Exceeding this voltage rating may damage the device and other system components.

Voltage Rating - DC: Typically this represents the maximum DC voltage rating to which a device will meet its given specifications. Exceeding this voltage rating may damage the device and other system components.

Response Time: Indicates the time between current reaching the fuse’s rated operating level and the fuse opening. Fast Blow fuses are typically used for delicate digital equipment highly sensitive to transient spikes, while Slow Blow fuses are useful for inductive applications that occasionally slip harmlessly past the fuse’s rated limit for short times.

Applications: Application is the type of equipment or environment the device will be used in, they are typically tested and rated by a third party to ensure certain minimum standards for the application they are intended for.

Features: These are different capabilities or properties of the device such as Voltage Triggerable, Clips Included, or Intrinsically Safe.

Class: Indicates a fuse’s class designation (see UL standard 248) which has bearing on factors including operating and interrupt ratings, physical form factor, and delay behaviors.

Approval Agency: An indication that the product meets the minimum safety standards of an approving agency. These agencies are either government entities or private third-party labs that protect consumer safety.

Operating Temperature: Recommended operating temperature, typically given in a range or as a maximum. Exceeding these temperatures may affect performance or damage the device and other system components.

Breaking Capacity @ Rated Voltage: Indicates the maximum value of current that the fuse can interrupt when opened up. Exceeding this rating may cause arcing to occur, causing significant circuit damage.

Package / Case: Indicates the type of protective case used on an electronic component to allow easy handling, installation, and protection. This selection was determined to be the closest industry standard applicable to the suppliers device packaging. Typically it is best to check the actual dimensions from the datasheet rather than depend on this terminology when designing your circuit.

Size / Dimension: The physical dimensions of the device, given as either Diameter by Length for cylindrical fuses or Length by Width by Height for rectangular ones. Both types are given in Inches (Millimeters).

ProductExamples

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MFR PART # 0159002.MR
DIGIKEY PART # F5726TR-ND - Tape & Reel (TR)
MANUFACTURER Littelfuse Inc.
DESCRIPTION 2A 600 V AC DC Fuse Board Mount Surface Mount
DATASHEET Click Here

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MFR PART # BK/GMT-5A
DIGIKEY PART # 283-2063-ND
MANUFACTURER Eaton - Bussmann Electrical Division
DESCRIPTION 5A 125 V AC 60 V DC Fuse Indicating Fuse Requires Holder
DATASHEET Click Here

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MFR PART # JLLN-250
DIGIKEY PART # 696-1828-ND
MANUFACTURER Riedon
DESCRIPTION 250A 300 V AC 125 V DC Fuse Cartridge Bolt Mount
DATASHEET Click Here

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MFR PART # 0AKHBK350-BA
DIGIKEY PART # 507-0AKHBK350-BA-ND
MANUFACTURER Bel Fuse Inc.
DESCRIPTION 350A AC 1 kV DC Fuse Square Bolt Mount
DATASHEET Click Here

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MediaLinks

Videos
Bel Fuse-Circuit Protection 0AD Series Family of Fuses Product Overview

Articles
Littelfuse Fuseology
Fuse Tutorial

Product Training Modules
High Current Fuse Holders - Riedon
High-Speed Fuseology - Littelfuse

Blogs
Basics of Fuses
Testing and Identifying Fuse Problems

TechForum
Alternatives for Mersen Amp-trap 2000 Class CC ATDR20
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If you have any general questions on the specifications for selecting Electrical, Specialty Fuses, please reply using the button below. If you have questions on specific Electrical, Specialty Fuses please post those questions in the Circuit Protection category.