FUSEHOLDERS

For a fuse to be useful, it must be connected to the circuit it will protect. Some fuses are "wired in" or soldered to the wiring of circuits, but most circuits make use of FUSEHOLDERS. A fuseholder is a device that is wired into the circuit and allows easy replacement of the fuse.

Fuseholders are made in many shapes and sizes, but most fuseholders are basically either clip-type or post-type. Figure 2-11 shows a typical clip-type and post-type fuseholder.

Figure 2-11. - Typical fuseholders.

CLIP-TYPE FUSEHOLDER

The clip-type fuseholder is used for cartridge fuses. The ferrules or knife blade of the fuse are held by the spring tension of the clips. These clips provide the electrical connection between the fuse and the circuit.

If a glass-bodied fuse is used, the fuse can be inspected visually for an open without removing the fuse from the fuse holder. Clip-type fuseholders are made in several sizes to hold the many styles of fuses. The clips maybe made for ferrules or knife blade cartridge fuses. While the base of a clip-type fuseholder is made from insulating material, the clips themselves are conductors.

The current through the fuse goes through the clips and care must be taken to not touch the clips when there is power applied. If the clips are touched, with power applied, a severe shock or a short circuit will occur.

POST-TYPE FUSEHOLDERS

Post-type fuseholders are made for cartridge fuses. The post-type fuseholder is much safer because the fuse and fuse connections are covered with insulating material. The disadvantage of the post-type fuseholder is that the fuse must be removed to visually check for an open. The post-type fuseholder has a cap that screws onto the body of the fuseholder. The fuse is held in this cap by a spring-type connector and, as the cap is screwed on, the fuse makes contact with the body of the fuseholder. When the cap and fuse are removed from the body of the fuseholder, the fuse is removed from the circuit and there is no danger of shock or short circuit from touching the fuse.

Post-type fuseholders are usually mounted on the chassis of the equipment in which they are used. After wires are connected to the fuseholder, insulating sleeves are placed over the connections to reduce the possibility of a short circuit. Notice the two connections on the post-type fuseholder of figure 2-11. The connection on the right is called the center connector. The other connector is the outside connector. The outside connector will be closer to the equipment chassis. (The threads and nut shown are used to fasten the fuseholder to the chassis.) The possibility of the outside connector coming in contact with the chassis (causing a short circuit) is much higher than the possibility of the center conductor contacting the chassis. The power source should always be connected to the center connector so the fuse will open if the outside connector contacts the chassis. If the power source were connected to the outside connector, and the outside connector contacted the chassis, there would be a direct short, but the fuse would not open.