Mercury 6 x 32mm T1.6A Slow Blow Fuses - 250V IEC Compliant

The Mercury T1.6A is a 6 x 32mm glass cartridge fuse rated at 1.6A and 250V, designed with a time-delay element that allows brief inrush currents to pass without blowing. This slow blow characteristic protects low-current circuits containing motors, transformers, capacitors or filament lamps, where the initial power-on surge can be several times higher than the steady-state operating current.

These fuses suit audio amplifiers, power supplies, control panels, automotive accessories, and vintage equipment where the original fuse holder takes a 6 x 32mm cartridge. The time-delay element tolerates short-duration overloads while still protecting the circuit from sustained overcurrent faults. The glass body allows visual inspection of the internal element without removing the fuse from the holder.

The fuse conforms to IEC standards for physical dimensions, breaking capacity and time-delay characteristics, ensuring consistent performance across batches. The nickel-plated brass end caps provide reliable contact in ceramic, panel-mount and inline fuse holders. At 1.6A rating, these fuses sit between the more common 1A and 2A sizes, making them useful for circuits where a 1A blows too readily and a 2A provides insufficient protection.

What does 'slow blow' mean?

A slow blow fuse has a time-delay element that tolerates brief overcurrent surges without blowing. This is critical for devices with inrush currents at power-on — motors, transformers, and filament lamps often draw several times their rated current for the first few milliseconds. A fast-acting fuse would blow immediately; a slow blow fuse allows the surge to pass and only opens if the overcurrent continues.

What equipment uses 6 x 32mm fuses?

This size is common in vintage audio equipment, guitar amplifiers, power supply modules, automotive accessories, and industrial control panels. It's less common than the larger 5 x 20mm or 6 x 30mm sizes in modern domestic equipment, but still widely used in specialist and legacy applications.

Can I replace a fast-acting fuse with a slow blow?

Not as a blanket rule. If the original equipment specified a slow blow fuse, replacing it with a fast-acting type will cause nuisance blowing. Going the other direction — replacing a fast-acting fuse with a slow blow — reduces protection and may allow damaging overcurrents to persist longer than the circuit was designed to tolerate. Always match the fuse type and rating to the manufacturer's specification.

How can I tell if the fuse has blown?

The glass body allows visual inspection. A blown fuse typically shows a broken or melted internal wire element, and in some cases a darkened or discoloured glass interior from the arc. If the element appears intact but the circuit still has no power, test the fuse with a multimeter set to continuity mode.