Which type of circuit protection device resembles a slow-blow fuse?

A current limiter is designed to protect circuits by limiting the amount of current that can flow through them, similar to how a slow-blow fuse operates. Slow-blow fuses are specifically designed to withstand temporary overloads, allowing higher initial currents for brief periods without blowing. This characteristic is ideal for circuits that experience surge currents upon startup, such as motors or transformers. A current limiter serves a similar purpose by restricting excessive current while allowing brief surges, thus effectively protecting sensitive components from potential damage without interrupting the circuit immediately.

Fuses will blow when the current exceeds their rated limit, but they don’t have the same surge tolerance as a current limiter. Relays and breakers serve different functions: relays act as switches controlled by an electrical signal, and breakers are designed to trip after a defined overload condition but do not resemble the characteristics of slow-blow fuses as closely as current limiters do.