Types of Automotive Fuses

No matter what types of automotive fuse are installed in a vehicle, they all have the same function - to protect electrical components from the dangers of short circuits or surging currents.  A fuse is nothing more than a short wire designed to melt under excessive current, thus, breaking the circuit and preventing the further flow of electricity.

There are two main types of automotive fuses - one of them looks like a glass tube capped at both ends with a metal with a piece of wire visible in the middle.  This is known as a cartridge fuse.  It fits in a holder and is designed for easy inspection and replacement.

The newer of these types of car fuses is usually made of transparent plastic or similar material with a semi-loop of wire visible in the middle.  Two prongs jutting out from the bottom of the package connect it to the circuit.  This type is found in newer model cars and is just one type of automotive fuses.

There are other kinds of automotive fuses; these vary in rating and sometimes in materials, but these two are the main automotive fuse types.