fused nuetral

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danbertoldi said:
what would be the reason for fusing a nuetral?
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To make a code violation?

Way back, I think around 1910-1920 they used to fuse both the grounded (Neutral/White) and ungrounded (Hot/Black) conductors.

Today that would likely be a violation of 240.22 unless the application meets either 240.22(1) or 240.22(2).
 
I believe the phase and neutral wires could be accidently swappt during the service repair. If so, it would be unsafe to replace the light bulb or work on wiring in house: few people had a voltmeter to identify a phase wire or care to do that.
 
Rich Elec. said:
Yeah, it would be unsafe because you would have 240 volts at every outlet
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That might otherwise be true, but we're talking about 120v services here. They typically had a two-position Edison-based fuseholder, containing a pair of 30a fuses, and then split into two circuits, wired with #14 wire, one for the upstairs and one for the downstairs.
 
LarryFine said:
That might otherwise be true, but we're talking about 120v services here. They typically had a two-position Edison-based fuseholder, containing a pair of 30a fuses, and then split into two circuits, wired with #14 wire, one for the upstairs and one for the downstairs.
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It appears to me I did not make clear myself yesterday.
Assume there is one fuse in the phase wire as it required by rules. If the phase and neutral get accidently swapped outside the house (wires which come down from the pole have the same color), the fuse would find itself in the neutral rather than in the phase wire. In case of short circuit of the house wiring the fuse would open the neutral, and the house wiring would be under unexpected dangerous voltage.
That's why people did not want to take any chance and put two fuses in the circuit - out of harms way. It was a good practice in old times.
Thank you, Anatole
 
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