Breakers v Fuses The case for?
ADVERC BM Ltd. and E-T-A Circuit Breakers are now jointly involved in the development of a range of Low Voltage Protection Devices (LVPD) which, having recognised a low battery voltage condition, anything from a single piece of equipment to full battery isolation can be achieved using the appropriate relay, solenoid or circuit breaker. E-T-A are also particularly specialised in a range of smaller circuit breakers for individual circuits, i.e. replacing the common fuse. Our own initial understanding was that the circuit breaker is, in fact, a re-settable fuse, in effect. More expensive but convenient. The E-T-A response is that there are two major differences: a circuit breaker not only detects a dead-short, but also the effect of an over-current fault condition, the latter causing a slow an often dangerous rise in cable temperature which, in turn, can lead to fire in the harness itself. Experience has shown it is the over-current type fault, more than the dead-short, which is the more
