M effect M effect stands for 'Metcalf' effect after the person who discovered it.

It involves the use of a small amount of low-melting point alloy (often solder) fixed to the fuse element (wire or strip). Under low overload conditions the fuse element heats up causing the M-effect alloy to diffuse into the metal of the element, increasing its resistance and hence shortening the time to blow comparedto the same element without Meffect. Under high overload conditions the fuse element heats up soquickly that there is no time for diffusion to occur. Surprisingly, fuse designers use this effect as a way of creating a fuse with time-delay characteristic, because it allows them to use a thickerwire (or strip) than they would otherwise be able to for a given current rating. It is this thickermaterial that allows a time-delay fuse to withstand short-duration highcurrent surges.