A fuse is always connected in the live wire of an electrical circuit.
Why Fuses are Connected to the Live Wire
The primary purpose of a fuse is to protect electrical appliances and prevent fires by interrupting the flow of current when it exceeds a safe level. According to safety practices, the fuse is strategically placed in the live wire for a crucial safety reason.
- Safety Disconnection: The fuse wire is always connected in the live wire of the circuit. When an excessive current flows, the fuse 'blows' or melts, breaking the connection in the live wire. This effectively isolates the appliance from the high potential point of the power supply.
- Preventing Shock: As the reference explains, if the fuse were placed in the neutral wire, it would still stop the current flow when it burns out. However, the appliance would remain connected to the high potential (live) wire. This means that even though the appliance is not operating, touching it could still result in an electric shock because it is still energized by the live supply. By placing the fuse in the live wire, blowing the fuse disconnects the appliance from the dangerous high potential, making it safe to handle (after the power is confirmed off and the issue is resolved).
This placement ensures that when the circuit is interrupted by the fuse, the appliance is fully de-energized, significantly reducing the risk of electric shock during or after a fault occurs.
