The solder wire fuse protection for power electronic devices

Fuses have been produced over hundred of years and are in use throughout the world in large numbers. They are the common protective device for the over current protection. They perform the vital role of protecting electrical equipments and networks and ensure that the faults are removed in minimum time and the continuity of supply is maintained to consumers at high level. The fuses are also used to prevent the power electronic devices and circuit from damage. This paper experimentally determines the different fuse characteristics of a rewirable fuse in the saline water. Solder wire has been tested for fuse protection. The experimental setup has been designed to carry testing of fuse in different quenching media with different lengths of wires. The experimental results show that semiconductor devices can be protected with an ordinary rewirable solder wire fuse. The joule integral (I/sup 2/t) heating of solder wire is faster compared to costly semiconductor fuse with better fuse characteristics. The experimental results show, based on the I/sup 2/t of the device, that the solder wire with particular length and diameter can be used to replace the fast acting semiconductor fuse with negligible cost. These fuses can be used for experimental work where it could be easily replaced but for commercial use special casing can be designed to handle the problem of replacement after the fuse is blown. The new method of fuse design is suggested where a simple rewirable fuse with almost negligible cost that can protect the semiconductor devices. This project is to determine experimentally the different fuse characteristics of a rewirable fuse in the saline water, distilled water and oil. Three different diameters of fuse wire have been tested for fuse protection. The experimental setup has been designed to carry testing of fuse in different quenching media.