A fuse prevents an electrical object from receiving too much current. In the event too much electricity is received by an electrical component, the fuse is designed to melt and separate.

There are several different types of fuses. The most common in the automotive industry is called a cartridge fuse. Cartridge fuses are held in place by spring clips and are easy to replace when necessary.

The most common fuse used in homes is a circuit breaker. Circuit breakers are switches that open up to stop current in the event of an overload. They can be closed by the flip of a switch. Circuit breakers are common in homes, businesses and industrial services.