The 5 Major Benefits of Fuse Control

1. Improved workplace safety….by reducing arc flash hazards

The explosive energies reached during an arc flash – intense heat, thermoacoustic shock wave, molten metal – can cause severe, often fatal, injuries to workers even several feet away. The fuses we recommend for reducing arc flash energies are UL Listed branch circuit fuses with the highest degree of current limitation — Mersen Amp-Trap 2000 fuses.

Amp-Trap 2000 fuses limit the fault current before it reaches its maximum value and clear the fault in less than ½ cycle, enabling the fuses to:

1. Greatly reduce the total energy delivered to an arcing fault
2. Limit to very low values the thermal and mechanical stresses created in equipment by the fault current
3. Easily coordinate overcurrent protection systems for both overloads and short circuits

Because this energy reduction lowers the amount of heat generated, the use of these fuses typically minimizes the level of personal protective equipment (PPE) required, allowing personnel to work more efficiently, and most importantly, safer.

2. Streamlined inventory gives greater availability of fuse spares with fewer SKUs

Amp-Trap 2000 fuses have the ability to replace multiple SKUs, reducing your overall inventory by 25% or more. The most common fuses found in today’s facilities are the UL Class H, K and RK5. The UL Class H, K and RK5 fuses are dimensionally interchangeable with the Amp-Trap 2000 Class RK1, making them easy to replace with a single class. The Amp-Trap 2000 Class RK1 provides a higher level of safety and performance than the other classes. A Class RK fuse holder should also be installed to prevent users from mistakenly installing Class H or K fuse in the future.

3. Reduced fault damage means decreased operating costs

In addition to streamlining inventory the Fuse Control program saves you by alleviating product replacement costs with current-limiting Amp-Trap 2000 fuses. If sized properly Type 2 “No Damage” protection can be achieved when installing current-limiting Amp-Trap 2000 fuses, which prevent short circuit currents from destroying your critical equipment. This means that your motor starter, contactor or variable frequency drive will remain in functional condition if a downstream electrical fault were to occur, saving you product replacement costs and installation time. Should an arc fault occur within the electrical equipment, Amp-Trap 2000 fuses will limit arc energy to low enough values so that equipment can typically be repaired and placed back in service.

4. Reduced downtime associated with electrical failures with full selective coordination

Amp-Trap 2000 fuses’ convenient 2:1 coordination ratio makes it easy to design a fully coordinated protection system. A selectively coordinated system will localize a fault condition, restricting outages only to the equipment affected. A fully coordinated system will eliminate unnecessary outages, help maintain production and save you time and money. Additionally, Mersen’s innovative SmartSpot® open-fuse indicator is available on the Amp-Trap 2000 Class J and Class RK1. SmartSpot uses a combination of advanced materials and a unique, solid-body design, which turns an eye-catching red to help you locate an open fuse quickly and safely. SmartSpot eliminates the guesswork and lets you locate the open fuse faster, helping you avoid even more costly downtime.

5. Better electrical code compliance with better fuse replacement options

Since your fuse spares inventory can affect the level of protection and safety in your facility, it should be considered as part of your electrical safety program. Fuse Control helps you eliminate obsolete fuses that can lead to unsafe fuse replacements. Moving to the superior performance and ratings of Mersen Amp-Trap 2000 fuses helps you in your efforts to reduce the risk of injury to your electrical workers.