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Jeff's experience designing content solutions lead him to be one of our first contributors. He helped draft Makey's blueprint and is one of the best explainers of technical details we know.
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Did you know that Thomas Edison patented the fuse in 1890 when he invented his electric distribution system? Nowadays, there are so many different kinds, it’s hard to choose a fuse without knowing the basics first.
In general, fuses are sacrificial electrical safety devices that are designed to stop the flow of electricity if there is a problem. Fuses are commonly found in automobiles, home electronics and appliances, and in older home fuse boxes. Fuses can come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and capacities, depending on their application. Fuses are similar to circuit breakers because they both stop electricity when there is a problem. However, unlike circuit breakers that can be reset, fuses are designed for single use and must be replaced.
Fuses are commonly used as electrical safety features in automobiles and many modern home appliances and electronic devices. And sometimes, they need to be replaced. There are a couple of ways you can tell if a fuse is blown: