BREAKERS/FUSES

[mbailey]

Any idea why you don't see breakers used more in amps. I hate having to scratch up fuses I keep spare tubes with me all the time but it always seems I used or gave away my last fuse at the worst time! So I was thinking about replacing the fuse holder in my 5e5ato a breaker. any reason I shouldn't??
thanks

[Wayne]

Many of the old Traynors had breakers in them. I don't know how reliable they are with time, but I've never blown one. I think they're the same part used in Electrolux power nozzles.

W

[jaysg]

I work in the beleagured US manufacturing sector. Mostly, circuit breakers are used, however, I'm working on something that was set up with fuses. I'm not sure why, unless it's easier to get a CE mark that way. Fuse holders and fuses are generally cheaper than circuit breakers, and if a breaker is tripped often, it will degrade...at least in my experience.

[Cygnus X1]

I have my own reason.

I won't use a breaker on one of my own scratch builds because if it starts popping fuses then it might mean something is seriously askew.
So Joe Blow pops the breaker, waits a minute, resets it, it runs, blows, etc...he is doing more damage to the point of destroying the PT etc.
I want the user to think about it, go through the actual work of replacing the fuse, and burn up a few pennies in the process.
Odd but true.

Plus I haven't found a good 2 or 3A sloblo breaker where I usually sorce parts. Mouser probably has them.

[Wayne]

As long as Joe Blow has access to bigger fuses and/or tin foil all bets are off!

W

[Structo]

So Cygnus raised a valid question.

Do they even make slo blo breakers?

You need something that will withstand the initial in rush of current before it stabilizes at a stead current draw.

Not sure I have seen a breaker like that and is probably why most if not all amps use fuses.