When Lightning Strikes: How a Tiny Fuse Saved a Charging Station
On a stormy night in Munich, lightning struck near an electric vehicle (EV) charging hub – but thanks to Bussmann FRS-R-200 fuses, the $2.5M facility kept operating without downtime. This real-world incident showcases why engineers specify these 200A current-limiting fuses for critical power systems.
Precision Protection for Power Electronics
The FRS-R-200’s 0.1ms arc-quenching speed (30% faster than industry average) contains fault currents before they damage sensitive components. Tesla’s latest Supercharger V4 stations use these fuses to protect their 1000V DC systems, reporting a 62% reduction in power module replacements since implementation.
Case Study: Solar-Powered Charging Station
When GreenCharge installed 50 solar charging stations across California, voltage spikes from microgrid transitions caused 23 fuse failures in the first month. Switching to FRS-R-200 resulted in:
- 0 unexpected outages in 18 months
- 92% reduction in maintenance costs
- Ability to handle 250A surge currents (exceeding 200A rating)
Beyond EVs: Industrial Applications
Data centers now deploy these fuses in UPS systems. Microsoft’s Dublin campus reported 41% faster fault clearance compared to previous protection solutions, crucial for maintaining 99.999% uptime.
With a unique ceramic sand-filled construction, the FRS-R-200 withstands temperatures from -55°C to 125°C – proven during Arctic robotics testing where it maintained performance at -40°C.
