Unlike a circuit breaker, a fuse cannot be reset. It must be replaced. A fuse box is a metal box that contains screw-in fuses and cartridge fuses. Smaller than the electrical service panels found in most homes today, fuse boxes contain between six and 12 fuses. Most older fuse boxes are rated at amp total capacity. By comparison, residential electrical systems today are amp total capacity. Circuit breakers and service panels are sometimes called fuses and fuse boxes, though this is technically incorrect.
Fuses have an element that burns out, while circuit breakers have thermomagnetic switches that can be reset. This puts fuses and circuit breakers in the same category, though they are different devices. Any fuse must contain a fusible section: that is, a piece that is capable of being melted. The fusible part is called the fusing element and it is sealed inside of the glass fuse body.
The fusing element is a thin strip of metal. When the fusing element receives more power than it is built to handle, it heats up, melts, and severs. Thus, the circuit is broken, rendering the circuit dead and safe.
After a fuse blows, the fusing element is permanently broken, so the fuse cannot be reused. It must be replaced with a fresh fuse. A typical fuse box setup is a amp box, with two main cartridge fuses in fuse blocks and four screw-in fuses. Fuses for residential use are of two types: screw-in or cartridge. A screw-in fuse is small and round, with a glass body that protects the fusing element a thin metal strip and a conductive metal base that screws into the fuse box, much like a light bulb.
A cylindrical cartridge fuse, which fits into a metal fuse block, handles greater loads such as for dryers or ovens. Look for the fuse box in closets, hallways, mudrooms, crawl spaces, basements, utility rooms, or laundry rooms.
Fuse boxes in more prominent locations might be covered with a wood panel or picture meant to disguise the appearance of the box cover or door. By design, fuses are the weakest link in the home's electrical system. All other wires and components in the electrical system are more robust than the fusing elements within fuses.
A closed circuit is one that works properly. Blowing a fuse opens the circuit. Electrical overloads can be up to 6 times the normal current level and usually will open the circuit. A blown fuse does not always mean that there is something wrong with the equipment, and in this article we will show you how to replace such a fuse. However, do not keep replacing a fuse if it blows immediately after you replace it. In these instances, call a qualified biomedical equipment technician to service the equipment.
It becomes an open circuit when it blows, interrupting the flow of current and preventing damage. In most cases, the fuse wire is mounted inside a small glass or ceramic tube, fitted with metal end caps. The glass tube forms a physical guard for the fuse, so that when it blows the molten metal does not cause damage or injury. A glass tube allows you to see when the fuse has blown: there will be a gap in the wire or a metallic smear on the inside of the glass.
Many electrical devices used in eye care have an externally accessible fuse near the electrical cord Figure 1 that you can check and replace by following these steps. Remove the fuse from its holder. In some cases you may need a small screwdriver to unscrew the fuse holder cap.
Look at the fuse wire. If there is a visible gap in the wire or a dark or metallic smear inside the glass then the fuse is blown and needs to be replaced. If you cannot see whether the fuse is blown, follow steps 4 and 5. If the fuse is definitely blown, go to step 6. Place one of the multimeter leads on one end of the fuse. Place the other lead on the other end of the fuse. Inspect a metal strip fusible element. A damaged one means the fuse has blown. If so, you need to replace it.
However, sometimes the wire may look intact even in the blown fuse. How we can help you Fuse box diagrams presented on our website will help you to identify the right type for a particular electrical device installed in your vehicle. We would, however, suggest getting a qualified electrician to take a look at your appliance. Please remember that electrics are dangerous. A fuse is an important safety component that makes up part of an electric circuit.
You will know if a fuse has blown if your lights suddenly go out or your electrical appliances stop working. As we mentioned in the intro, it could be down to you plugging in too many appliances at one time i. Today most houses have a modern fuse box that uses trip switches, rather than carriers containing fuse wire. Follow these simple steps:. Keep in mind that if you overload your circuits either by using all of the sockets in an extension lead or plugging in too many devices in a single room your switch is likely to trip again.
If this does not fix the problem, there may be a fault with the fuse box itself. This will need to be examined and repaired by an electrician. If the issue is terminal, you will need to speak to them about fuse box replacement cost and installation. If you live in an old property, it may still have a traditional fuse box that contains fuse carriers and wire.
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