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English language (monolingual) [PRO] Tech/Engineering - Construction / Civil Engineering / Electrical systems
English term or phrase:(verb/word to describe what a fuse does)
Hello, I need a verb/word that describes what a fuse does. I have considered “protected”, but feel that is not descriptive enough. “Fuse protected” is too clumsy, and “surge protected” sounds a little odd too, and I am not sure that this would describe all functions of a fuse.
TIA :)
Example 1:
The *** for the individual loads should be achieved through line circuit breakers or neozed-circuit breakers with a nominal current of 10 A.
“Network sockets are to be *** using B 16 A line circuit breakers in the SD network”
Explanation: You really don't need a more "descriptive" word than this; it is after all exactly WHAT a fuse does to a circuit - it's certainly what I'd use.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 11 mins (2009-02-15 19:03:01 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Of course, "protection" is to be used in your example 1, "protected" in example 2...
Just make sure you don't drop dead at the end of it! Though actually, I think translators are more likely to get executed as bearers of unwelcome messages...
Please don't take my comments as criticism, though... sometimes one is just too close to a text, and it may be helpful to have an uncoloured outside view... to point out things like this.
I know all too often how I have the same problem coming from FR... just can't seem to liberate myself from the last ties with the structure of the source text; and often, the organization of the ideas really just doesn't work well in EN.
Anyway, jolly glad if we've been at least some help to you today! :-)
After my heroic efforts to hammer the original German into something that sounds remotely English-like, you should be composing songs on your respective lutes about my deeds for younger generations. Granted, it could be better. But it is like running a marathon and reaching the end and someone telling you that you still have a block to go and you shouldn't feel any sense of accomplishment. This is also pre-revision, and these ARE problem sentences that need work. So, I am truly greatful for everyone's help, the English>English area is the best place for those stickily terms. You guys are great!
Aside from the regrettably and unnecessarily acrimonious discussion here (and for the record, I agree with mediamatrix and Tony here), IMO Tony has put his finger on the main issue: the wording of the translation is too close to the source language, which yields awkward English.
The fuse is a safeguard against something happening, when the fuse blows then protection happens. There is no protection until the safeguard has done its job............................................................................................ A smoke alarm in a home is a safeguard. you are protected when it sounds the warning (Works) and you can exit the house. It doesn't protect you, it safeguards you from harm. Protection is the secondary result of the safeguard doing its job. ...........................................................................................
"The system is to be protected by the contracting party" In this sentence there are no safeguards in place, unless there is a Modus operandi in place. Then the Modus operandi is the fuse or the safeguard. If the Modus Operandi fails protection is lost. If the Modus operandi is working, you are protected.
Where as if the fuse blows (the safeguard works), protection is in place and no further current can flow. A fuse is the safeguard which when triggered enables protection to happen. ........................................................................................................ Tony, your example sentence has to be in the same context of having a mechanical safeguarding device, which when activated offers protection.
Another one.. .....................................................................................A hand brake/ park brake in a car. it is a safeguard device which in the event of brake failure you may be able to use it. But its primary function is an additional safeguard for your car when you park it in the street. I hope this makes it clearer..
A fuse still allows power to travel to the component, but if there is a problem then it is the safeguard, which will provide protection when it works, (Blows) ..................................................................................... To answer the question of what is the best verb describing what a fuse does. It is a safeguard device which when activated offers protection. "Safeguard"
"The system is to be protected by the contracting party ..."
Yes, this is exactly what I mean about sticking too literally to the source language: it would sound ridiculous to say "protected by the contracting party" (unless they're planning on standing gaurd with a Rottweiler!)
But if you get away from the original word order and say "The contracted party is to provide protection for the system" it works a lot better — though note that from a technical perspective, i would have expected them to specify what kindof protection (an umbrella?). In order to correctly render the spirit of 'Absicherung', I would be inclined to add 'safety overload protection', though that is not quite comprehensive enough really — but I think in the context it would be understood correctly as encompassing both overload protection and safety-related (i.e. basically earth leakage) protection, which are the two types really at issue here, I would surmise. Alternatively, you might say "...to fit / install appropriate protective devices" or "circuit protection"
Asker, as I have suggested before, I don't think the real underlying problem here is the actual vocabulary, but it's more about the fact that your target language sentence structure sticks too close to the source language, which makes the right vocabulary solution sound awkward. Aside from my modest knowledge of German, I say this partly because of the way in which 'protection' is used in FR, which often sits quite awkwardly to EN ears, until I analyse exactly how I would more naturally express the sentence if writing it in EN.
Like I said, please give us some other sentence examples where you feel 'protect / protection' doesn't work, and we can see if we can help any better.
Oh, and if it's any reassurance to you, like M/M, I too have worked professionally for many years in electricity and related fields. So I'm certainly not talking out of the back of my head here!
Asker, since I at least am convinced that 'protection' is the one and only correct term, perhaps you could give us examples of other sentences where you feel it doesn't fit?
@ Gary: The statement "Circuit breakers are modern fuses" is factually incorrect; and has been for the past ... 40 or 50 years. Your other statements above are also, at best, incorrect. Source: 35+ years in electrical engineering.
I knew somone would ask eventually. I didn't want to muddy the waters with the actual term. It is absichern/Absicherung (German). I have already posted this in German>English. I think they came up woth protect too, which works fine above, but is less clear in other phrases where the circuit brakers are not mentioned.
And isn't that what the asker asked for? Having an understanding of what a fuse does ensures the correct answer is applied to the sentence, The asker can then change the sentence when the correct word is located. I am sure you just like disagreeing.
What source language are you actually translating from? It seems to me that the main problem is you are trying to find a word to fit a hole in a text that is already rather flawed, which is probably the real cause of your problem.
A surge protector is as it says it is an over current protector, and not a short to ground isolating unit. A fuse blows when there is an over load of amps, not Volts. A surge protector switches off when there is an overload of Volts.
You are wrong on all points.. Circuit breakers are modern fuses. They are re-setable where a fuse is replacement only. A circuit breaker and a fuse are called into play when a circuit is gone to ground in an AC circuit, not when there is an over- current.
... of a circuit-breaker (of the types mentioned in the source text) is 'over-current protection', not 'surge protection'. Again, the concepts are quite different...
There is no reason to make any reference to 'fuses' - either in the question or the translation - because the text refers to circuit-breakers, not fuses. They are quite different... Nor should you use 'surge protect_xxx', because the main function ...
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Answers
10 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +5
protect
Explanation: You really don't need a more "descriptive" word than this; it is after all exactly WHAT a fuse does to a circuit - it's certainly what I'd use.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 11 mins (2009-02-15 19:03:01 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Of course, "protection" is to be used in your example 1, "protected" in example 2...
David Moore (X) Local time: 08:19 Specializes in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 32
Grading comment
Thanks, David
Notes to answerer
Asker: This is fine in the two examples above. The problem is when I have a sentence like "The system is to be protected by the contracting party ...", in this example it is too vague because there is no reference to the circuit breaker, and I can't assume there is one, it may in face be a fuse. Dunno, I am using protect almost everywhere now, just a couple problems left like the one above.
Asker: PS - Thanks ofr your help, and you might note this is from "absichern/Absicherung"
peer agreement (net): +5