More than one reason for ” Why Copper Wire Is Not Used In Fuse?” Is discussed in this article! In essence, fuse wire can be made from nearly any conductor. The price of the fuse metal would be important if you were a fuse manufacturer who produced thousands of fuses.
The fact that copper is sensitive to the atmospheric reaction known as “green rot” is another factor. One compromises the cost, while the other compromises the integrity of the fuse element.
If your fuse is made of a hair-thin wire, any modification could make it less precise. Additionally, a fuse element is an alloy and likely already contains copper.
Why Copper Wire Is Not Used In Fuse?
Due to copper’s higher melting point, low resistance, and ability to conduct current without melting it or disrupting the circuit, which could harm appliances, copper wire cannot be used as a fuse wire.
Why Is Copper Used To Make Connecting Wires And Not Fuse Wires?
I believe tinned copper wire has always been used to make solid connecting wires. This almost eliminates oxidation, maintains improved conductivity, and makes soldering easier. This is used to make fuse wire.
Appliance connection wires are bundled and covered in an insulator, such as PVC when they are made. Therefore, only the exposed ends are susceptible to oxidation. Some manufacturers crimp brass terminations onto the wires for quicker assembly and to eliminate oxidation issues.
Is It Possible To Utilize Insulated Copper Wire In An Electric Fuse? If Not, Why Not?
Some automakers have resorted to using rudimentary fuses made of specifically designed insulated wires as a last line of defense against extreme short circuits.
The insulation has been carefully chosen to resist flame spread and the production of significant quantities of poisonous gases. The “fusible link” is specifically defined and put to the test.
Additionally, automobiles frequently have intricate fuse panels with many common automotive fuses. Making a fuse out of an untested piece of insulated wire randomly is a good idea if you have conducted comprehensive safety testing and certification.
What Will Happen If We Use A Piece Of Copper Wire To Replace A Blown Fuse Wire?
The concept behind a fuse is that it is the weakest link in an electric circuit and will blow if a fault occurs that results in an excessive current draw. As a result, the failure occurs in a controlled manner in a recognized location, alerting you to the issue and averting further harm.
The issue that led to an excessive amount of current draw in the first place still needs to be resolved by just substituting a piece of wire for the fuse.
That could still happen again; if it does, another system component will fail. If the short happens again, it could blow up a more expensive component or melt wiring, igniting a fire.
Much more money will be spent on the resulting damage than on a new fuse. Avoid doing this. That fuse is your friend, and its blowing indicates a problem that must be fixed before replacing it with a different fuse of the same rating.
Why Is It Risky To Use Copper Wire Instead Of A Fuse Wire?
A fuse is a safety measure that prevents a fire from spreading from a circuit overload. Overloads can be caused by short circuits in damaged equipment, poor wiring, or an excessive number of devices on the circuit.
If an overloaded circuit is left unchecked, the excessive current will burn the wire or defective components beyond what is deemed safe, frequently resulting in fire. If a fuse is changed for anything else, the circuit might be operated riskily.
What Gauge Of Copper Wire Should You Use If You Want To Use It As A 150A Fuse?
Copper (wire) makes a terrible choice for a fuse, especially when the current is strong! Glass cartridge fuses with modest current ratings up to 50-60 Amps employ copper wires. Only short circuits are protected by these sorts of fuses.
The Fuse alone provides extremely faulty protection. The diameter of the wires (even a small variation in Dia will affect the value at which the fuse will blow), the purity of the wire material, the type of cooling available, and last but not least, the ambient temperature all affect the fusing current.
Depending on the type and location, numerous fuses are available. Even MCCBs (Moulded Case Circuit Breakers) are available, which can be reset with the flip of a switch rather than replacing a fuse following a blow-up.
Conclusion
I have discussed the reasons “Why Copper Wire Is Not Used In Fuse?” Fuse wires often have high electrical resistance to generate heat that could result in melting when the voltage reaches a threshold value specified by fuse grading.
Cu is a good heat dissipator because of its strong thermal conductivity and extremely low electrical resistance. This prevents it from melting and interrupting the circuit, defeating the function of the fuse.
