Method for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Electrical Circuit Protection with Miniature Fuse-Links

Abstract

Miniature fuses as an anti-damage subsystem perform the important function of protecting electronic devices and systems against permanent damage that may result in electric shocks, fire risks, etc. Their role becomes particularly important when they are installed in such special systems as electronic security systems (ESS). For this reason, there is a need for practical verification of their protective properties. The article presents the results of destructive tests of the circuit-breaking time of miniature fuse-links considered in terms of their usefulness in the ESS with the use of a passive experimental add-on, developed at the Military University of Technology in Warsaw. The characteristics of the measuring attachment circuit and the measurement methodology used were presented. Based on the obtained measurement points of the obtained time–current characteristics, an attempt was made to develop their mathematical model using numerical methods in the field of non-linear regression, using the least squares optimization method (Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm). An exemplary classification of miniature fuse-links has been proposed due to their protective properties of circuits in the context of their use in electronic security systems. The considerations were summarized with an economic analysis of the tested fuse links. The conclusions include proposals for changes to the provisions of the European standard PN-EN 50131-1:2009 “Alarm systems: Intrusion and hold-up systems Part 1: System requirements” and Polish Defence Standard NO-04-A004-8 2016 “Military facilities. Alarm systems. Part 8: Operation”.