A specialized protective device engineered to tolerate brief overcurrent surges without interrupting the circuit it safeguards. This characteristic allows it to distinguish between harmless temporary current fluctuations and sustained overload conditions. For example, a motor starting may draw several times its normal operating current for a short duration; a standard fuse would likely blow in this scenario, but this type of fuse is designed to withstand the surge.
Employing this type of overcurrent protection offers several advantages. It prevents nuisance tripping, maintaining operational continuity in systems with transient surges. This reduces downtime and ensures the reliable functioning of critical equipment. Historically, the development of this type of fuse addressed the growing need for robust circuit protection in industrial and commercial applications where motors and other inductive loads are prevalent.
