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Thread: switches and circuit breakers

  1. #31
    Senior Member Av8r_Sed's Avatar
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    Feb 2010
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    10C Greenwood, IL
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    Default Re: switches and circuit breakers

    Fundamentally, the AC fuse isn’t as good of a choice as the DC fuse in this application. In reality, it probably won’t make a difference at these voltages.

    I’m not a fan of glass fuses in aircraft a) because they can break and b) because the holder clips usually are pretty exposed and can lead to inadvertant shorts. Maybe an upgrade to blade type fuses is in your future?
    -- Paul S
    Model III SN910
    582 IVO Med

  2. #32
    Senior Member PapuaPilot's Avatar
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    Nov 2013
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    Default Re: switches and circuit breakers

    It doesn't matter which one you use. Both are rated for the same amps.

    There are fast blow and slow blow fuses and you can decide which type you want dependent on the circuit it is powering. The slow blow ones can tolerate a short burst of current with out blowing. You can Google this if you want more info.
    Phil Nelson
    A&P-IA, Maintenance Instructor
    KF 5 Outback, Cont. IO-240
    Flying since 2016

  3. #33
    Senior Member jmodguy's Avatar
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    Jul 2014
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    Default Re: switches and circuit breakers

    AC and DC fuses are built different. This is due to arcing when the element opens. AC circuit average voltage is zero. This is due to the symmetrical value of the voltage above and below a zero reference. DC circuit average voltage is the voltage in the circuit.
    When you open a fuse in an AC circuit the voltage passes through zero volts very quickly and there is very little arcing. When you open a fuse in a DC circuit the voltage (and current) is still there, until the element has separated.
    This is why production and military aircraft use circuit breakers instead of fuses.
    Remember this, the circuit breaker or fuse is not there to protect your hardware, it is there to protect the wiring and prevent an inflight fire...
    Jeff
    KF 5
    340KF

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