What is a fuse and what are the types?

Fuses are an overcurrent protection device (OCPD) that works by melting a metal strip when the current flowing through it exceeds the fuse’s rating. The melting of the metal strip opens the circuit and interrupts the current flow. Fuses come in various types, including fast-acting, time-delay, and resettable. Fast-acting fuses are designed to protect against short circuits. They melt very quickly when an overcurrent condition is detected. This makes them ideal for safeguarding circuits susceptible to short circuits, such as those that supply motors or appliances.