Old fuse box service

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tshea

tshea

Senior Member
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Wisconsin
Need an idea. What do you use to "blank off" a damaged edison base fuse socket in an old fuse service panel?
The shell was boogered up by a tenant when they ripped out a fustat holder. We were able to reroute the circuit to a subpanel so the power is back on. We need to "seal" the open fuse socket.

Thanks.
 
Re: Old fuse box service

Originally posted by tshea:
What do you use to "blank off" a damaged edison base fuse socket in an old fuse service panel?
Click to expand...
You cover it with the lid of a trash can and install a new panel.
 
Re: Old fuse box service

Or j box the o;d circuits that entered the fuse panel and run them into a modern day CB panel.Brings me back to a 15 amp fuse feeding a 2 bedroom apt.200 ft. away :eek:
 
Re: Old fuse box service

Duct tape is always a good solution when all else fails.

How many of you would rather have fuses than circuit breakers in your home? I'll take the fuses. :D

I agree with trashing an old fuse panel if it's overloaded and ready to explode, but if the panel is in good shape I would not be in any hurry to get rid of it.

But seeing as how you have a safety issue with an open fuseholder, I think panel replacement is the only option.
 
Re: Old fuse box service

tshea,

Coaxing the last bit of life out of old equipment is something I deal with from time to time. In this situation, I'd want to leave the branch circuit terminal un-usable.

Just how bunged up is the screw shell? If it is completely gone, epoxy or silicone caulk a standard edison base fuse in the hole. If there is enough shell to hold a fuse in the hole, then do it.

In both cases, take the terminal screw out of the bus where the branch circuit conductor lands and split the bus into the tapped hole. That's my opinion.
 
Re: Old fuse box service

I agree the "best" way is to replace the panel. Anybody want to send the money to do so? Owner cannot afford to do so, and I'm not a bank. I don't finance! I like the idea of epoxy an old fuse in the socket. Adding to it, I think "blacking out" the front would make sense also.
Again, I agree the best method is to replace the panel. Like said, it's a $$$ issue. We fix what we can and replace what we have to, but we don't work for free!
 
Re: Old fuse box service

Just curious but what did they do in the old days when a space was not used? I know you could still put a fuse in there but did they make blanks for those spaces just as a marker? Do supply houses have plastic plugs that you would use to plug up knockout holes? Maybe this could solve your problem with the bunged up socket.
 
Re: Old fuse box service

hbendillo,

As I look at this, there are two issues. (1) dead front (2) damaged or dangerous conductive path prone to thermal failure in the fuse holder.

Putting something in the fuse hole that can be taken back out takes care of (1), but not (2).

In my experience, I've never seen anything other than a fuse used as a "place holder". Once a fuse is in the socket, the socket has a dead front. Whether the branch circuit terminal powered by the fuse is hot or not, in a good fuseholder, is not a concern, as it is behind the dead front of the enclosure cover.

But this case, where the fuse holder screw shell is damaged, to me, says that the fuse holder should be rendered out of service in some manner. This deals with (2) above.

In the past, depending upon the manufacturer's assembly, I've removed the brass tongue that extends from the screw shell to the branch circuit terminal screw. A lot of old fuse center assemblies are put together with screws and can be disassembled, but some cannot, without removing seals.
 
Re: Old fuse box service

This morning we removed the tongue and wire terminal, the socket and the hold down inner screw. It's now a bakelite hole with no conductive parts. Doesn't work on all old fuse boxes but it did in this case.
Thanks!

How many remeber the "solid" fuse that was installed in edison base fuseholders on a 30A, 120V service. This "slug" was for the grounded leg of the service.
 
Re: Old fuse box service

I've got three or four that I've collected on service upgrades.

I latched onto them 'cause I knew that I might find them useful, but would be nigh onto impossible to source at my supplier.

I'm still waiting to put the first one back into service. :D
 
Re: Old fuse box service

Edison based fuses,fusestats , pennies under blown fuses wow now that take me back to when I was a baby electrician ;)
 
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