ISA Interchange

Welcome to the official blog of the International Society of Automation (ISA).

This blog covers numerous topics on industrial automation such as operations & management, continuous & batch processing, connectivity, manufacturing & machine control, and Industry 4.0.

The material and information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. ISA blog posts may be authored by ISA staff and guest authors from the automation community. Views and opinions expressed by a guest author are solely their own, and do not necessarily represent those of ISA. Posts made by guest authors have been subject to peer review.

All Posts

AutoQuiz: Which Fuse Has the Quickest Response to Over Currents?

AutoQuiz is edited by Joel Don, ISA's social media community manager.

Today's automation industry quiz question comes from the ISA Certified Automation Professional certification program. ISA CAP certification provides a non-biased, third-party, objective assessment and confirmation of an automation professional's skills. The CAP exam is focused on direction, definition, design, development/application, deployment, documentation, and support of systems, software, and equipment used in control systems, manufacturing information systems, systems integration, and operational consulting. Click this link for information about the CAP program. The following question comes from the CAP study guide, Performance Domain III, System Design: Design, specify, and procure the hardware/software used in the system.

Which fuse has the quickest response to over currents?  

a) single element
b) dual element
c) time delay
d) dual-element time delay
e) none of the above

 

In electronics and electrical engineering, a fuse is a type of over current protection device. Its essential component is a metal wire or strip that melts when too much current flows.

When the metal strip melts, it opens the circuit of which it is a part, and so protects the circuit from excessive current.

Fuses are fast-blow, slow-blow, or time-delay according to the time they take to respond to an over current condition. The selection of the characteristic depends on the protected equipment.

Semiconductor devices may need a fast or ultrafast fuse for protection since semiconductors may have little capacity to withstand even a momentary overload.

Fuses applied on motor circuits may have a time-delay characteristic, since the surge of current required at motor start soon decreases and is harmless to wiring and the motor.

Single element fuses have a very high speed of response to over currents. They provide excellent short-circuit component protection.

Dual-element and time-delay fuses serve in circuits subject to temporary motor overloads and surge currents. Dual-element and time-delay fuses contain two series elements-a short-circuit element and an overload element.

The correct answer is A, the single-element fuse.

Reference: Bussmann Cooper Industries, SPD Electrical Production Handbook.

Joel Don
Joel Don
Joel Don is an independent content marketing, social media and public relations consultant. Prior to his work in marketing and PR, Joel served as an editor for regional newspapers and national magazines throughout the U.S. He earned a master's degree from the Medill School at Northwestern University with a focus on science, engineering and biomedical marketing communications, and a bachelor of science degree from UC San Diego.

Related Posts

3 Ways Industry 4.0 Can Upgrade Industrial Water Treatment Methods

Industrial water treatment methods must evolve to remain relevant and efficient. Many decision-makers hav...
Emily Newton Mar 12, 2024 7:38:26 PM

ISA Business Academy: A Mini-MBA For Automation Industry Leaders

The ISA Business Academy is a 10-week fully digital program beginning 28 March for both current and aspir...
Ashley Ragan Mar 11, 2024 10:08:24 AM

How Automation Is Transforming the Recycling Industry

Modern recycling industry professionals are increasingly interested in how automation could boost their o...
Ellie Gabel Mar 8, 2024 8:00:00 AM