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Common Fuse Box Problems Andover
What is an RCD?
Common Fuse Box Problems

What is a fuse box?

A fuse box is a type of electrical cabinet in which fuses, and circuit breakers are used to protect the wiring system from overloads, short circuits and ground faults. Fuse boxes help to distribute electricity more efficiently, with safety as a primary concern. Before we dive into the most common fuse problems, lets have a look at how a fuse box works.

 

How does a Fuse box work?

A fuse is designed to "blow" (or melt and separate the fusible link) under too high of an electrical current. A circuit breaker, on the other hand, interrupts electrical service through the use of tripped switches. These two main types of protection are then complemented by various other forms of devices, such as ground fault protection, arc fault protection and surge protectors.

Fuses are typically divided into two types: cartridge fuses and link or cable fuses. The cartridge fuse is a small tube that holds the fusible metal link in place. After the circuit has become overloaded or shorted, the link melts and the circuit is broken. The tube then cools down again to reform the link, allowing normal operation to resume.

The Most Common Fuse Box Problems

The average person can notice signs of a failing fuse box. You don’t need to be a qualified electrician to understand you may have a problem on your hands. The two most common symptoms are: An overloaded circuit which will blow the fuses in question. As a result, this will cause any associated devices to disconnect. Lastly, the smell of burning is another clear indication of a faulty fuse, as well as the smell you will notice burn marks on the fuse box. If you notice either of these signs within your premises, it’s a clear sign of a problematic fuse box. To resolve these issues, you must contact a qualified electrician.

What causes the most common fuse box problems?

Faulty Appliances: A faulty fuse box can be the result of a single appliance. For example, a hairdryer, kettle, laptop, or any other appliances in use. Regardless of the appliance, any electrical fault present can lead to your fuse box tripping repeatedly. The way to identify the issue is by disconnecting all appliances and then plugging them back in one at a time until the circuit trips.

Poor Wiring: Fuse boxes generally undergo a lot of maintenance work during their lifespan. This continuous maintenance can lead to the installation of poor wiring or installation of the wrong size wire. Both of these examples pose major risks such as, electric shock or electrical fire. All wiring issues must be investigated and dealt with by a professional electrician. In addition, if poor wiring is the reason for your faulty fuse box, it must be dealt with as top priority.

Overloaded Circuits: Present day buildings are generally full of electrical devices, and this can lead to significant strain on your fuse box. In addition, this highly noticeable when extension leads are in use. To prevent this, you must be cautious of how many appliances are using the same extension lead. Furthermore, an overloaded fuse box can be very dangerous, as previously mentioned it can lead to electrical fires. For this reason, it is important to carry out an audit of how many appliances are running on each circuit.