Relay vs. Fuse — What's the Difference?

A relay is an electrically operated switch. It consists of a set of input terminals for a single or multiple control signals, and a set of operating contact terminals.

A cord of readily combustible material that is lighted at one end to carry a flame along its length to detonate an explosive at the other end.

An act of passing something along from one person, group, or station to another.

Often fuze A mechanical or electrical mechanism used to detonate an explosive charge or device such as a bomb or grenade

A relay race.

A safety device that protects an electric circuit from excessive current, consisting of or containing a metal element that melts when current exceeds a specific amperage, thereby opening the circuit.

A division of a relay race.

To equip with a mechanical or electrical fuse.

(Electronics) A device that responds to a small current or voltage change by activating switches or other devices in an electric circuit.

To join (different pieces or elements) together physically, as by melting or heating

A crew of workers who relieve another crew; a shift.

To blend or combine together

A fresh team, as of horses or dogs, to relieve weary animals in a hunt, task, or journey.

To liquefy or reduce to a plastic state by heating; melt.

To pass along by or as if by relay

To become physically joined together, as by melting.

To supply with fresh relays.

To be combined or blended together

(Electronics) To control or retransmit by means of a relay.

To become liquefied from heat.

A new set of hounds.

A cord that, when lit, conveys the fire to some explosive device.

A new set of horses kept along a specific route so that they can replace animals that are tired.

The mechanism that ignites the charge in an explosive device; a detonator.

(by extension) A new set of anything.

(figurative) A tendency to lose one's temper.

A series of vehicles travelling in sequence.

A friction match for smokers' use, having a bulbous head which when ignited is not easily blown out even in a gale of wind.

(athletics) A track and field discipline where runners take turns in carrying a baton from start to finish. Most common events are 4x100 meter and 4x400 meter competitions.

A kind of match made of paper impregnated with niter and having the usual igniting tip.

(electronics) An electrical actuator that allows a relatively small electrical voltage or current to control a larger voltage or current.

(electrical engineering) A device to prevent excessive overcurrent from overload or short circuit in an electrical circuit, containing a component that melts and interrupts the current when too high a load is passed through it.

(transitive) To pass on or transfer (information).

To furnish with or install a fuse to (an explosive device) Usage notes]] for noun above.

To release a new set of hounds.

(transitive) To liquify by heat; melt.

To place (people or horses) in relays, such that one can take over from another.

(transitive) To melt together; to blend; to mix indistinguishably.

To take on a new relay of horses; to change horses.

(intransitive) To melt together.

Alternative spelling of re-lay

To furnish with or install a fuse to protect a circuit against overcurrent.

To lay again; to lay a second time; as, to relay a pavement.

To have been protected against overcurrent by its fuse melting away, creating a gap in the wire, thus stopping the circuit from operating.

A supply of anything arranged beforehand for affording relief from time to time, or at successive stages; provision for successive relief.

(organic chemistry) To form a bicyclic compound from two similar or different types of ring such that two or more atoms are shared between the resulting rings

In various forms of telegraphic apparatus, a magnet which receives the circuit current, and is caused by it to bring into into action the power of a local battery for performing the work of making the record; also, a similar device by which the current in one circuit is made to open or close another circuit in which a current is passing.

To liquefy by heat; to render fluid; to dissolve; to melt.

Relating to, or having the characteristics of, an auxiliary apparatus put into action by a feeble force but itself capable of exerting greater force, used to control a comparatively powerful machine or appliance.

To unite or blend, as if melted together.

The act of relaying something

To be reduced from a solid to a fluid state by heat; to be melted; to melt.

Electrical device such that current flowing through it in one circuit can switch on and off a current in a second circuit

To be blended, as if melted together.

Pass along;

A tube or casing filled with combustible matter, by means of which a charge of powder is ignited, as in blasting; - called also fuzee. See Fuze.

Control or operate by relay

A mechanism in a bomb, torpedo, rocket, or artillery shell, usually having an easily detonated explosive charge and activated by the shock of impact, which detonates the main explosive charge. Some fuses may have timing mechanisms, delaying the explosion for a short time, or up to several days after impact. Fuses activated by other mechanisms more sophisticated than impact, such as proximity or heat, are used in modern weapons such as antiaircraft or antimissile missiles.

A wire, bar, or strip of fusible metal inserted for safety in an electric circuit. When the current increases beyond a certain safe strength, the metal melts, interrupting the circuit and thereby preventing possibility of damage. It serves the same function as a circuit breaker.

Electrical device that can interrupt the flow of electrical current when it is overloaded

Any igniter that is used to initiate the burning of a propellant

Mix together different elements;

Become plastic or fluid or liquefied from heat;

Equip with a fuse; provide with a fuse

Make liquid or plastic by heating;