FUSES or BREAKERS?

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champion

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St. Louis Missouri, US
Have a 50 year old dwelling unit with 100amp service. The existing box is a cutler hammer box and consist of all fuses.
The person who owns the home is telling me that someone told him that he has to change the fuse panel to a breaker panel.
I asked why?
Aren't fuses adequate overcurrent devices for AC service?
230.90 does not indicate whether breakers or fuses preferred, but the code does indicate that the service conductors must be OC protected.
Can someone shed some light on this for me. Its not the first time that individuals have told me this same thing.
Am I not reading something in the code somewhere. 120/240v 1Ph AC service. (residential)
 
Re: FUSES or BREAKERS?

Some insurance companies will not insure an existing home with fused panels and sometimes a bank might not close on financing without replacment to breakers. This happens alot in an older community in my area.

Functionaly speaking, fuses have the problem of tampering and overfusing is common. Other than that a nd the issue of one time use, fuses are as effective and safe as breakers in any application. In many cases fuses have higher AIC ratings. :)
 
Re: FUSES or BREAKERS?

There is nothing in the Code that would require that the panel be changed. There may possibly be some local requirement or a real estate agent may say that it's good for sales but other than that your customers are misinformed or probably watching too many This Old House episodes.

-Hal
 
Re: FUSES or BREAKERS?

It always amazes me when bakers and real estate people say fuses are "not safe because of over fusing" How many of you have found "over breakering" when doing a service change? I am not trying to start an argument but isn't one just as bad as the other?
 
Re: FUSES or BREAKERS?

Your not suggesting that the average person is just as likely to remove the cover from an energized panel, remove the conductor from the breaker, remove the breaker, install the new one, re-terminate the conductor, and place the cover back on the enclosure, then they would be to simply unscrew a fuse, and screw in a new one without having to touch any wiring or even take the cover off?

I'm not suggesting over sizing breakers doesn't happen, but it certainly isn't as rampant as fuse oversizing. :)
 
Re: FUSES or BREAKERS?

Far more home owners will overdo the fuse.Most are too scared to even think of removing that cover.Was there not an adapter that limited the fuse size and once installed not removable ?
 
Re: FUSES or BREAKERS?

Jim i haven`t seen fusestats in along time.But that`s why they were used to eliminate a penny behind a glass plug fuse.to those who have never seen this go to NYC they still have them ;)
 
Re: FUSES or BREAKERS?

Just asking. 240.51(B)says that edison based fuses are to be used for replacement where there is no evidence of overfusing or tampering. Does this mean if I encounter a 30A edison fuse on a circuit with 14AWG wire, I am bound by the code to install a type S adapter instead of simply putting in a 15A fuse.
 
Re: FUSES or BREAKERS?

If it still has same tenant or owner then i think you should.They changed it once they will do it again.
Last year i did a fire job and it was because of a 30 replacing a 20.They were lucky in that the wire burned open and a fast fire department that used heat detector to min the damage.What surprised me was the insurance company not only paid to rewire that circuit but also paid for a new service.Something is not right in the homeowner waiting for a fire to get it fixed free.
 
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