ETA Circuit Breakers has introduced a low-cost ETA 1626 miniaturised circuit breaker designed as a direct replacement for blade-type fuses. It protects fuses through its ability to distinguish between temporary surges and genuine overloads. As well as protecting electrical circuits in cars, trucks and buses, it can also be used in watercraft and other 12/24V DC wiring applications, such as heavy-duty and off-road vehicles. The new blade-type ETA 1626 Mini-CBE is available in three versions - with automatic reset, with a reset button, or with both a manual release and a reset button.The colour-coded ETA 1626s are available in all the standard current ratings offered by blade fuses, from 5 up to 30A. Depending on the version, when the 1626 has tripped, it resets automatically when the load is removed or the re-set button pops up, showing clearly which circuit has a fault. The colour coding provides quick and easy identification to ensure correct plug-in placement in standard ISO 8820-3 Type F automotive blade-type fuse blocks. The ETA 1626 can be fitted to purpose-designed ETA modular mounting bases. At the same time, the electrical performance characteristics of the ETA 1626 allow it to distinguish between temporary surges and genuine overloads, providing superior protection to fuses.
This is especially important for motors, lamp loads and other circuits where discrimination is necessary between in-rush currents and normal operating conditions. ETA circuit-breaker performance is stable over time: fuses can age, causing their blow characteristics to change, which may lead to nuisance blowing of fuses with consequent problems while the vehicle is in use. Overall dimensions of the body of the overcurrent circuit breaker are just 25 x 13.3 x 7mm. The operating temperature range is -40C to +85C.
