In electrical distribution, what is commonly used to protect against overcurrent?

In electrical distribution, fuses are widely used to protect against overcurrent. A fuse serves as a safety device that interrupts the flow of electricity when the current exceeds a specified level. It consists of a metal wire or strip that melts when it gets too hot due to excessive current, thereby creating an open circuit and preventing potential damage to equipment or wiring from overheating or fire.

Fuses are essential for safeguarding electrical systems because they are designed to respond quickly to overcurrent conditions, providing a reliable means of protecting connected devices and ensuring the overall safety of the electrical installation. This characteristic makes fuses fundamental components in both residential and industrial electrical systems.

The other options do not serve the purpose of overcurrent protection. Rectifiers are used to convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC), capacitors are primarily utilized for storing electrical energy and filtering signals, and ground rods provide a grounding mechanism to protect against electrical faults but do not directly interrupt current flow in cases of overcurrent.