To Fuse or Not to Fuse... That is the question!

roberttcan"The following is so laughably incorrect, I don't know whether the poster was honestly communicating what they believe or if they were trolling. This is wrong. It is not open to debate (unless you have no clue how electricity works). Of course energy is transferred in both directions."

No has has claimed, asserted, or argued otherwise perhaps you are confused, disoriented, or lack proper reading comprehension.

Excuse me?  That is EXACTLY what someone claimed. This is a direct quote from this thread. geoffkait specifically. Don't shoot me, I am just the messenger, not the comedian. It seems it is you that lacks reading comprehension or just wanted to look like the big man on the block, but were too lazy to do due diligence or perhaps you just don't understand the topic at hand similar to how goeffkait does not understand it.

The FUSE, no matter the direction of the current flow, impedes (or doesn't impede) the flow of electrons which impacts the flow of every electron at a macro level in the circuit. It doesn't matter whether the electrons are flowing into the left or right side of the fuse. The effect is the same with an AC signal ... it is a 2 port device.

If you truly believe the fuses are directional, then you should open up your electronics and start playing around with the direction of every resistor and non polarized capacitor too .... let me know how that goes.

Bye



geoffkait17,586 posts10-13-2019 7:51amibmjunkman
OK, I am totally confused. You guys saying you use these fuses in AC circuits?

From their web site:
A: Yes, fuses are directional. Electricity should flow from the left to the right when you view the fuse. If you do not know the direction of flow you should listen to the fuse inserted in both directions. One direction will sound more detailed. This is the correct way.

I thought AC changed directions 60 times a second? 

>>>>>Thanks for bringing that up. Actually most audio fuses happen to be in AC circuits. It’s true current changes direction on the wire according to where the fuse is located. If the fuse is located where power comes into the CD player, preamp or amp or whatever it changes 60 times per second. But if the fuse is located in the speaker the current changes according to frequencies of the audio waveform. Thus the current at the fuse in the speaker changes 20 to 20,000 times per second - or more or less. If the fuse is in a DC circuit obviously current is unidirectional.

You can ignore the current traveling in the direction away from the speakers, I.e., toward the wall, since that direction of current flow is not (rpt not) audible. The only direction that’s audible for any wire is the one toward the speakers. It is the speakers that ultimately produce the sound you hear. So, it’s the “quality” of the current traveling toward the speakers that is the issue. That’s why fuses sound better in one direction, worse in the other direction in AC circuits and DC circuits. As Old Blue Eyes sez, that’s life. 

No fuse sounds better until a power surge fries your gear

from Littlefuse 3AG Slo-Blo 313/315 Series

% of Amp Rating          Amp Rating         Opening Time
----------------------          --------------------         -------------------
100%                           10mA – 30A              4 hours, Minimum
135%                           10mA – 30A              1 hour, Maximum
200%                           10mA – 15A              5 sec. Min., 30 sec. Max
                                     20A – 30A                5 sec. Min., 60 sec. Max

The average time / current curves for a 5A Slo-Blow requires ≈20A to open in 1 second, typ. A 5A fuse would typically be fit for a 2.5A load. To get 20A into the unit would require a surge of about 1000V. By the time the fuse blows, it's all over but the crying.

There is an old saw "Speaker/Transistor protected fuses" that has more than a little truth to it.

Energy does not travel to and fro in an AC circuit. Energy is a scalar quantity. It has no direction. It doesn’t make sense, anyway, since IF energy changed direction along with the current the net energy would be zero. 

Note to Mr. Eels - the name is Littelfuse, not Littlefuse. 

You remind me of those Charlie Brown cartoons ... "Wa wa wa wa, wa wa wa wa".  Yes, electrons do move "to and fro" and they impart/transfer energy ... in both directions. The fuse is a simple element in a circuit, a circuit that works both directions ... being a simple 2 port element, it will work the same in both directions. The fuse "impedes" electron flow in the circuit whether the electrons enter from the left or the right. 

You repeating the same stuff over and over again shows you don't understand, not that you do, i.e. "energy is scaler quantity" ... and yes, energy is transferred in BOTH DIRECTIONs. Whether it is scaler or not really matters not. Energy is transferred in both directions. Period.

You do know that a lightbulb "receives" energy in both directions of the current flow right? Do you know the frequency of flicker of a light bulb .. it's not 60Hz, it is 120Hz. (or 100Hz)

DO YOU know why power supplies in audio equipment have ripple at 120/100Hz? ... that is because energy is transferred in each direction.



geoffkait17,587 posts10-21-2019 2:50pmEnergy does not travel to and fro in an AC circuit. Energy is a scalar quantity. It has no direction. It doesn’t make sense, anyway, since IF energy changed direction along with the current the net energy would be zero.

Note to Mr. Eels - the name is Littelfuse, not Littlefuse.