Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of electrical safety device: A "plug fuse" is a fuse designed with a threaded base that screws into a matching socket, similar to a light bulb. Its primary function is to protect an electrical circuit by melting and breaking the circuit if the current exceeds a safe level.

Usage

• Noun:
  • This device is typically found in older residential electrical panels or for protecting specific appliances.
  • It is characterized by its screw-in installation method.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The kitchen circuit kept tripping, so I replaced the old plug fuse with a new 15-amp one.
  • You should always turn off the main power before unscrewing a plug fuse from the fuse box.

Advanced Usage

• Technical Specification: Plug fuses are rated for specific amperages (e.g., 15A, 20A, 30A). Using a fuse with a higher rating than the circuit wire can handle is a fire hazard, a practice known as "overfusing."

Variants and Related Words

• Fuse (n): The general term for an overcurrent protection device.
• Fuse box (n): The panel or cabinet containing the fuses for a building's circuits.
• Circuit breaker (n): A modern device that performs a similar protective function but can be reset, unlike a one-time-use fuse.
• Screw-in fuse (n): A synonym for "plug fuse," emphasizing its installation method.

Synonyms

• Screw-in fuse
• Edison-base fuse (a specific common type named after its inventor)

Notes

• The term "plug fuse" is a compound noun. Its meaning is specific to the complete phrase. The individual words "plug" and "fuse" have their own separate, broader definitions.

Noun

1. a fuse with a thread that screws into a socket