For those buggin-in - Something probably forgotten
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my place have those automatic fuses today,but I remeber when I lived home with my bro and dad,he kept always several spare boxes of all plugs in use.
there were enough of stories of those "smart ones" who iserted a small nail in the plug...resulting in fire at the end..
there were enough of stories of those "smart ones" who iserted a small nail in the plug...resulting in fire at the end..
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I haven't changed a house fuse since, what? Married student housing when I was in grad school...in the 1980's maybe?
Ah, it has been a very long since I had to change a house fuse. Folks should also look at appliances and equipment used in the home front. Many items may have in-line fuses. Many A/C units have fuses, and not circuit breakers. Washer, driers, vehicles or ? Look at schematics on the appliances or equipment for fuses. Better a trip to the hardware store now vs. during SHTF times. JM2C
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They still use fuses in houses? Seems like everything in the house and on the generators all have resettable breakers. But I do have some in line fuses on some of the solar components. I keep a large supply of fuses for this and the vehicles too.
We replace fuses in commercial electrical work pretty often still. I prefer to install non fused ones myself. I had a fused service panel on a house years back and replaced it ASAP, but there are still plenty of places still working safely with them.
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Pooky, there must be a difference in terminology.
This is what we call a "Plug Fuse" which is what was used in the early 20th century here for home fuse panels which have been largely replaced by breaker boxes. I'm not even sure what I'm looking at in your picture.
This is what we call a "Plug Fuse" which is what was used in the early 20th century here for home fuse panels which have been largely replaced by breaker boxes. I'm not even sure what I'm looking at in your picture.
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OK, now I found something that explains what you are talking about. That type of "Plug Fuse" is only applicable to British wiring systems. Besides, we use flat blades on the electrical plugs so it wouldn't work on an American plug anyhow. We use lower voltage circuits in the home and appliances are protected well enough by the typical 15 amp breakers. We have separate 110 volt circuits for each room usually, each with it's own 15 amp breaker in the breaker box. We use what's called Split Phase power, which allows one three wire cable (plus ground) to supply either one 220 volt circuit (for large appliances) or two 110 volt circuits (for everything else).
British Plug Fuses
Electrical plugs contain fuses to protect appliances and their cables and reduce fire risk. Fuses do this by breaking the electrical circuit in the event of excess current flow.
But fuses are only normal in British plugs (also used in Ireland and a handful of other countries). So why do only British plugs contain fuses? And are British plugs safer than other countries’ plugs?
Perhaps it was true in the past that British plugs were the safest in the world. However, electrical safety has moved on significantly since the British plug was introduced in 1947, and a fuse in a plug is a primitive device compared to a modern circuit breaker. But British plugs still need to contain fuses due to a peculiarity in the way that British homes are wired: the UK is almost unique in favouring the “ring circuit”, which is a large circuit that typically covers an entire floor of a house.
These large British electrical circuits tend to be protected by a 32 amp circuit breaker rather than the 16 amp breakers normally used to protect the smaller “radial circuits” typically found in homes in other countries. The problem is that home appliances can usually handle 16 amps but not 32 amps. So the reason that British plugs still need to contain fuses is to protect appliances and their cables from the higher current flows possible with British ring circuits.
Electrical plugs contain fuses to protect appliances and their cables and reduce fire risk. Fuses do this by breaking the electrical circuit in the event of excess current flow.
But fuses are only normal in British plugs (also used in Ireland and a handful of other countries). So why do only British plugs contain fuses? And are British plugs safer than other countries’ plugs?
Perhaps it was true in the past that British plugs were the safest in the world. However, electrical safety has moved on significantly since the British plug was introduced in 1947, and a fuse in a plug is a primitive device compared to a modern circuit breaker. But British plugs still need to contain fuses due to a peculiarity in the way that British homes are wired: the UK is almost unique in favouring the “ring circuit”, which is a large circuit that typically covers an entire floor of a house.
These large British electrical circuits tend to be protected by a 32 amp circuit breaker rather than the 16 amp breakers normally used to protect the smaller “radial circuits” typically found in homes in other countries. The problem is that home appliances can usually handle 16 amps but not 32 amps. So the reason that British plugs still need to contain fuses is to protect appliances and their cables from the higher current flows possible with British ring circuits.
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Same with automobiles.
You mean Ve-hicles lol!
I remember those days. And the fuse box outside too.
Yes, veeeeehicles.
Don't really know if you're being satirical about blowing a fuse in a car (getting pissed off) or that there's also differences in fuses for cars.
Have a corroded fuse in my truck now that needs replaced. It controls the turn signals. Had the truck up off the ground as the lights to the camper weren't working, trailed it to the fuse box finally. I dislike wiring.Don't really know if you're being satirical about blowing a fuse in a car (getting pissed off) or that there's also differences in fuses for cars.
In the old well house we still have the old edison base fuses and the cooper cartridge panels, though these haven't been used in years here, we still have homes here using the old GE/Edison panels in town.
This thread did remind me to pick up some blade type fuses for equipment I plug into the generator and inverter during long term power outages.
I'm not on about fuses for mains boxes.
I'm on about fuses for the individual appliances such as a TV, PC, kettle, fridge etc..etc..Merkins dont have fuses in their plugs mate
Over here individual appliances from cookers to curling tongs, hair driers to food mixers have fully enclose fuses in the plug rated from 3 amp to 13 amp. the house itslf normally now has a Distribution board instead of a Fuse Box, there is a main inline fuse in the Main power supply into the house to the Distribuition board, the board itself now has up to about 12 RCBs, Residual current Circuit Breakers of various ratings. The house itself will have separate RCBS for Upstairs Lights, Upstairs Sockets, Downstairs lights, Downstairs Sockets, Garage, Cooker, Shower, Immersion heater, Alarm. Most should have totally separate Dist boards for separate garages, outhouses etc. UK power is 220V AC at 50 cycles ( I think). Many older houses still have old fashioned exposed wire fuse boxes but they are being phased out as houses get rewired ( about every 50 years)
