"Stefek Zaba" wrote in message
...
:::Jerry:::: wrote:

If that really is what is happening then the protection should
have
bloody well cut the supply, or are you saying that the whole
frigging
regulations and design of components are total crap in letting
such a
situation to happen were the protection is rated to the supposed
maximum for the components...

No it shouldn't.

Overcurrent protection does not, cannot economically, and is not
designed to, provide protection against sustained "small" overloads.

Prevention of sustained overload is the job of final circuit DESIGN.

Fuses and MCBs aren't magic: an MCB rated at 20A will pass a 20A
current
forever without tripping. It will also pass a 21A, 22A, 23A, 24A,
and
25A current effectively forever: these components just aren't
precision
devices.
sniped but read

The take-away message is that fuses and MCBs do NOT protect against
silliness, only against foreseeable gross faults.


Yes, I accept what you say, but surely the terminals etc. should be
able to withstand such overloads? What is the point of a final
protection device if it doesn't protect...