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What is the difference between the Circuit Breaker and fuse? what is The most important characteristics for them?

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Question added by Mohammed Alajaji , Material Officer , Qassim Cement Company
Date Posted: 2016/04/18
Adnan Ahmad
by Adnan Ahmad , Senior Electrical Engineer , Engro Polymer and Chemicals ( Petrochemical Plant)

The Fuse is self Disrupting protection of the electrical system however the circuit breaker is the  electrical equipment which can disconnect the electrical circuit. The Circuit breaker can reconnect the circuit but the fuse will have to be replaced.  The settings of breaker can be changed and tripping time be settled accordingly. In contrast the tripping time in fuse cant be adjusted.

Fuses can be used as alternatives to circuit breakers, however the main difference between the two is under. 

The fuse is a device working on the electrical and thermal properties of the conducting material, while a circuit breaker is a device working on the electromechanical principles.

• Once used a fuse has to be replaced but the circuit breaker can be reused after correction of the fault in the system.

• Fuses offer protection against only power overloads, while circuit breaker offers protection against power overloads and short circuits (voltage imbalances).

mujahed mutasim
by mujahed mutasim , Electrical Engineer , TechButtons IT Solutions

fuses working as thermal device but circuit breaker its electromechanical device , Once used a fuse has to be replaced but the circuit breaker can be reused after correction of the fault and last things Fuses offer protection against only power overloads, while circuit breaker offers protection against power overloads and short circuits. 

Ahmad Ali Beck
by Ahmad Ali Beck , Automation & Control Specialist , WODFA Industrial Co.

1) The circuit breaker can be used frequently, where a fuse must be changed once damaged.2) A circuit breaker can switch off based on different optional factors, where the fuse cuts off based on current value (Ampere) only.3) Fuse is better against shortcircuit, where breaker is better for limiting the current.4) Fuse can be placed in narrow places, like in a plug, in instruments, ... etc

Abd Rahman Adam Abd Rahman
by Abd Rahman Adam Abd Rahman , Plant Engineer , Auto Oil & Chemicals Recycling Factory

Fuse is faster than circuit breaker.

Virgil Bruiners
by Virgil Bruiners , senior consultant , Saudi Electric services polytechnic

The breaker is desinged to open and close but the fuse you can remove for isolation purposes and it is also designed to protect the circuit against overload,if its blown you will have to replace the fuse.

The most important charateristic would be the fuse is designed to protect the circuit and the breaker is actualy a switch for on and off.

Fuse is a cut-off device which protects the downstream electrical circuit from over-current. If it blows, you replace it.

While a circuit breaker is a more sophisticated piece of cut-off device that isolates the electrical downstream circuit from the source in case of over-current and can be reset after the short circuit is rectified.

Circuit breakers, nowadays has more functions than just protecting the system from short circuit. In a power plant with several numbers of generating units, circuit breakers are used for automatic synchronization of the system. It is also normally used for bus ties.

manzoor ummar
by manzoor ummar , Electrical Engineer , Tata Consulting Engineers

  1. Let through energy and cut off current of fuse is less than a circuit breaker.
  2. Fuse gives type-1 co-ordination but with circuit breaker it is possible to achieve type-2 co-ordination.
  3. Fuse works on thermal effect of current. Circuit breaker works on the magnetic effect of current.

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