bigger fuses??

[problemsolver600]

As the in house electrician for a small company building aluminum sun rooms, I get into a lot of panels, and it of course is not uncommon to see 30 amp fuses on 12 or 14 guage wire. You will not see them there when I leave, but that's not the story. I always thought that this is one good thing about breakers, that anyone going into a panel to replace a breaker that is tripping, would "DO IT RIGHT". On a recent occasion in a Chicago suburb, the back of my hand was burned when touching what I thought was a water pipe, but turned out to be a 1/2" conduit with 14 guage wires attached to a 30 amp breaker. The brown wire was originally white, and the black wire was originally blue. Equipment installed by a local aquarium supplier was tripping the breaker so the 15 was replaced with a 20 and then a 30. I had current peaking at 28.5 amps. So much for my assumption that anyone going to that much trouble would do it right.

 

[tom baker]

Re: bigger fuses??

There is a simple solution to overfusing-Bussman Fusestat. They are not interchangeable. A special base is installed and each will only take the correct size fuse.

 

[bphgravity]

Re: bigger fuses??

I run into this same problem all the time. I perform a lot of work in older homes for realtors. Many of these homes have fused panels with all 30-ampere fuses. I always notify the agent, make a comment on the work order invoice, and replace them with the proper sizes. In many cases, I get called back due to blown fuses, usually because of microwave, hair dryers, and other heavy loads not originaly desiged into the wiring of the home. Some owners will pay for adding circuits some will not. I refuse to refuse(no pun intended) with the wrong size fuses with the understanding as soon as I leave, the tenant will. The aging of electrical systems in the US is at a critical point. There are really only two options: complete upgrade to current standards, or houses continually burning down.

 

[tom baker]

Re: bigger fuses??

Brian- I like your approach. We don't know the life of wiring systems.

 

[brian john]

Re: bigger fuses??

There is a simple solution to overfusing-Bussman Fusestat. They are not interchangeable. A special base is installed and each will only take the correct size fuse.[/B


This is what I always thought, but low and behold for every safety device there is a bypass method. Went over to a carpenters house I know to look at an electrical problem he was having. When I looked in the fuse panel I saw pennies in the fusestats holders, I told him thats almost impossible to do. His response "Not with a hammer and screwdriver".

And BP That is the only solution IMO.

 

[problemsolver600]

Re: bigger fuses??

Thank you all for reading and responding. I do use the "semi tamper proof " fuses, but want to restate that I am surprised that someone who knew enough to change a breaker would not change the circuit also.