• Bibliotectress@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        This made me realize I have no idea what fuses are.

        In electronics and electrical engineering, a fuse is an electrical safety device that operates to provide overcurrent protection of an electrical circuit. Its essential component is a metal wire or strip that melts when too much current flows through it, thereby stopping or interrupting the current. It is a sacrificial device; once a fuse has operated it is an open circuit, and must be replaced or rewired, depending on its type.

        • ramplay@lemmy.ca
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          1 year ago

          And Circuit Breakers serve a similar function with a different mechanic and are resettable. Any modern house ought to have many of these inplace on the main electrical panel.