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In Reply to: All science is based on observations. posted by Norm on April 17, 2010 at 07:26:07:
do not realize is that every manufacturer has a wide variety of fuse types available. The European fuses seem to have the fewest types, with their slow blow fuses having different overload times: that is a medium fast blow, to a really slow blow variety, with rather specific overload times.For the US varieties there are definitely two types of Slow Blow fuses. The current variety is constructed with a fiber core with a spiral fusible link wound around that core.
The older and much more expensive type involves a spring loaded fusible link. The fusible link is much more substantial for its rating than the newer construction but the spring applying tension allows for the thicker fusible link to break at the rated amperage value. It most definitely sound better than the newer construction.
I do notice it is capable of higher surge currents, important in many Tube type electronics which have a higher initial turn on surge. On amps like the Quicksilvers, where the manufacturer warns that the fuses may trip for no reason at all after a few years, this type fuse has served for close to a decade with out blowing.
If you closely examine a modern Slow Blow fuse on equipment turn on, you will see the fusible element "jump" as the initial current passes through it. The movement is quite noticeable and I suspect this movement is what eventually fatigues the fusible element, causing it to eventually break even under normal operating conditions.
Digikey still has such fuses but they are special order and, of course, you must make minimum order. Last I checked they were about 3 to 4 dollars apiece.In the fast blow variety there is a Buss series MTH, IIRC (it's been a while) which as previously stated has a fusible element shaped like a cartoon caricature of a lightning bolt. The fusible link is the where the Z's narrow bridging over to the next zag. My first acquaintance was them in the PS Audio 200C power amp. Again very rarely stocked and a bit pricier. It is again a special order item for most on line distributors, but maybe if enough people ask for them, people like Mike Percy may start to stock them.
And then of course there are the ceramic bodied fuses. These were originally designed to avoid the normal glass bodies shattering, IIRC. I have not disassembled one to examine if the internals are any different from normal fuses. I have been using the other types of fuses mentioned with excellent results for a number of years now, well before the trend of "audiophile" fuses emerged.
Stu
Edits: 04/25/10
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Follow Ups
- What most people - unclestu 14:17:56 04/21/10 (1)
- Correction - unclestu 02:00:57 04/23/10 (0)
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