9/5/23, 5:56 PM Five Criteria For Fuse Selection | Engineers' Insight | Avnet Abacus

Finding the right fuse for the task: Five

criteria for fuse selection
By Jerry Moss    |    August 11, 2021
 

Industrial    Interconnect Passives & Electromechanical   

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One of the earliest and simplest electrical
inventions, the fuse, has the job of being the
weakest link in a circuit. When a fuse element is
heated by the current to a certain temperature, it
melts and interrupts the current. In this way, this
inexpensive component prevents uncontrolled
fault current or overcurrent from damaging a
system.

Whatever the size, use or value of the electronic

system, one or multiple fuses are needed for
primary and secondary protection, on or off the
circuit board. A good choice ensures the system
is protected for the duration of its lifetime; a poor
choice means an overwhelmed product support
department at best. 

Aside from packaging choice (SMD, thru hole, cartridge) and current and voltage ratings (AC and DC power), there are
some important criteria to consider when choosing fuses:
 

1. Maximum operating current & operating temperature

Under normal operating conditions, a
fuse is subjected to a maximum
operating current and a maximum
operating temperature. Fuse current
ratings are measured at 23˚C but since
a fuse is rarely operated at this
temperature, ‘derating’ of the rated
current is usually necessary. The
higher the ambient temperature, the
quicker the fuse will blow, so a higher
amperage is necessary.
Taking the example of
SCHURTER’s UMT 250 series of time-
lag SMD fuses. When the operating
temperature is 60˚C, a 1A fuse needs
to be derated by 17%, so a rounded-up
fuse value of 1.25A (1A / 0.83) would
be required (figure 1, right).
  Figure 1: De-rating curve for SCHURTER’s UMT 250 time-lag SMD fuse

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2. Time-lag or quick-acting
Referred to as ‘trip characteristics’, a key decision is whether to use a time-lag or quick-acting fuse. With a thicker fuse
element than their quick-acting counterparts, time-lag fuses trip at a slower rate at high current. A low resistance to current
inrushes makes quick-acting fuses suitable for resistive loads, such as data or signal lines. Time-lag fuses demonstrate
high resistance to inrush currents and suit capacitive loads, making them a better choice for motors, power supplies and
any circuits with capacitors.
 

3. Melting integral value

Inrush current peaks occur when capacitors that are initially charged are switched on (figure 2, below). These take the
form of short duration pulses and when they occur often, cause fuses to age prematurely. It is for this reason that
manufacturers provide a melting integral value, or I2t value, and rated current for each fuse type. The I2t value represents
the amount of thermal energy needed to melt the wire or fuse element. Displayed in graph form, the melting integral
shows an exponential curve with a peak current value of Ip over a period of time, T. It can be calculated using the
following formula: I2t Application = 0.5*Ip2*τ

Figure 2: Typical switch-on curve of a SMPS when capacitors need to be charged

An overcurrent or inrush current peak in excess of the I2t value would melt the fusing element and interrupt the circuit, so
the I2t value of the fuse must be higher than the calculated value for the application.
 
 
4. Number of pulses over lifetime  

The number of pulses over the life of the equipment must be taken into account. A factor of 0.29 is used for 10,000 pulses
with time-lag fuses. 
Pulse resistant fuses are available, such as SCHURTER’s UMT-H, UMF 250 and UMT 250 series.
 

5. IEC 60127 or UL 248-14

The rated current of a fuse is designed according to either IEC 60127 or UL 248-14. The two standards mean that fuses
are not directly interchangeable. Broadly, fuses designed in accordance with IEC 60127 may be operated continually at
100% of the rated current value, whereas fuses in accordance with UL 248-14 may be operated only at 75%. UL 248-14
specifies a minimum of 4h operating time at rated current.

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IEC and UL standards also apply to fuse holders. IEC 60127-6 standard fuse holders need to specify rated power
acceptance (e.g., 2.5W / 10A @ 23°C), rated current and rated voltage. For fuse holders approved to UL 512 and CSA
C22.2 no. 39, only the rated current and rated voltage are specified.
Whichever standard your chosen fuse adheres to, bear in mind that fuses mounted in holders can influence each other
with regard to temperature e.g., an operating current of 5A at 60 °C would result in a temperature increase in the fuse
holder, leading to a need for derating. Fuse holder specifications have a recommended derating curve that should be
taken into account.
Finally, a fuse might not solve the problem of overcurrents. When overcurrents are twice or three-times the rated current,
a fuse becomes less accurate and is not suited to the task. Alternative overcurrent protection measures such as electronic
protection, thermal overload elements or additional fuses are then necessary.

So with your fuse selection criteria in mind, it’s time to find the right fuse for your
application. SCHURTER has a range of high performance SMD fuses and fuse holders designed for precise performance
and circuit protection, with stock available for pilot samples from Farnell. Alternatively, if you have a question or would like
to discuss your design in more detail, our team of technical specialists is on hand to help.

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