Understanding the fuse usage in your facilities is key to effectively managing your plant inventory, operating costs, code compliance, and workplace safety. Mersen’s Fuse Control program is a powerful combination of circuit protection products and services designed to help you streamline your fuse inventory, saving you money and increasing workplace safety.
The Benefits of the Fuse Control Program:
Improve Workplace Safety by Reducing Arc Flash Hazards
The explosive energies reached during an arc flash, including intense heat, thermoacoustic shock wave and molten metal, can cause severe and often fatal injuries to workers even several feet away. Mersen Amp-Trap 2000® fuses are UL Listed branch circuit fuses with the highest degree of current limitation and are recommended for reducing these arc flash energies.
Amp-Trap 2000 fuses limit the fault current before it reaches its maximum value and clear the fault in less than ½ cycle, enabling the fuses to:
- Greatly reduce the total energy delivered to an arcing fault
- Limit to very low values the thermal and mechanical stresses created in equipment by the fault current
- Easily coordinate overcurrent protection systems for both overloads and short circuits
Because this energy reduction lowers the amount of heat generated, the use of these fuses typically minimizes the level of personal protective equipment (PPE) required, allowing personnel to work more efficiently, and most importantly, safer.
Streamlined Inventory with Fewer SKUs
Mersen Amp-Trap 2000® fuses can reduce your overall inventory by 25% or more by replacing some of the most common fuses found in today’s facilities including UL Class H, K and RK5. These fuses are all dimensionally interchangeable with the Amp-Trap 2000 Class RK1, making them easy to replace with a single class.
The Amp-Trap 2000 Class RK1 provides a higher level of safety and performance than the other classes and should be installed with a Class RK fuse holder to prevent users from mistakenly installing Class H or K fuse in the future.
Reduced Fault Damage Means Decreased Operating Costs
In addition to streamlining inventory, the Fuse Control program alleviates product replacement costs with current-limiting Mersen Amp-Trap 2000® fuses. If sized properly, Type 2 “No Damage” protection can be achieved when installing current-limiting Amp-Trap 2000 fuses, preventing short circuit currents from destroying your critical equipment. This means that your motor starter, contactor or variable frequency drive will remain in functional condition if a downstream electrical fault were to occur, saving you product replacement costs and installation time. Should an arc fault occur within the electrical equipment, Amp-Trap 2000 fuses will limit arc energy to low enough values so that equipment can typically be repaired and placed back in service.
Decreased Downtime Associated with Electrical Failures
Mersen Amp-Trap 2000® fuses’ convenient 2:1 coordination ratio makes it easy to design a fully coordinated protection system. A selectively coordinated system will localize a fault condition, restricting outages only to the equipment affected. However, a fully coordinated system will eliminate unnecessary outages, help maintain production and save you time and money. Additionally, Mersen’s innovative SmartSpot® open-fuse indicator is available on the Amp-Trap 2000 Class J and Class RK1. SmartSpot uses a combination of advanced materials and a unique, solid-body design, which turns an eye-catching red to help you locate an open fuse quickly and safely. SmartSpot eliminates the guesswork and lets you locate the open fuse faster, helping you avoid even more costly downtime.
Better Electrical Code Compliance with Better Fuse Replacement Options
Since your fuse spares inventory can affect the level of protection and safety in your facility, it should be considered as part of your electrical safety program. Fuse Control helps you eliminate obsolete fuses that can lead to unsafe fuse replacements. Moving to the superior performance and ratings of Mersen Amp-Trap 2000® fuses helps you in your efforts to reduce the risk of injury to your electrical workers.
Ready to learn more?
Contact Standard Electric’s team of technical experts today to arrange for your free Fuse Inventory Audit & Analysis. The initial storeroom audit and database analysis is simple and can be done virtually to protect both you and your customers.
Standard Electric Supply Co. is a family-owned distributor, built on delivering outstanding service. For over 100 years, Standard Electric has been the best at what they do; delivering top-quality products, outstanding service, and providing value-added services to customers across the Midwest. Visit standardelectricsupply.com to see how Standard Electric can become the solution to your needs.