Fuses and Circuit Breakers |
||||
| By Travel Guy | ||||
In older homes you will find a multitude of outlets all running off of one circuit which results in frequent blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers. Some homeowners think that if they install a larger fuse or circuit breaker their problems will be solved. While this may prevent blown fuses it creates a dangerous overload on the branch circuit wiring. Cables and conductors are rated by how many amps they can safely carry continuously. A #14 cable is rated at 15 amps and a #12 cable is rated 20 amps. If you were put in a 30 amp fuse or circuit breaker you will exceed the safe limits of the cable. When a cable is asked to carry more current than it is rated for, a dangerous situation develops. The larger a cable is the less resistance it has and the more current it can handle. The smaller a cable is the less current it can handle. You can use the garden hose analogy - the larger the diameter the less resistance and the more water it can carry. When overloaded, the conductors will heat up which can melt the insulation on the cable and cause a short circuit or an electrical fire. The correct way to resolve a situation where fuses and breakers frequently trip is to install more circuits and break up overloaded circuits. These days houses are wired much differently with circuit breaker panels housing 32 to 40 branch circuits. The big advantage of circuit breakers is that they can be reset where fuses have only one life. To reset a circuit breaker first turn it all the way off and then you can switch it back to the on position. When a fuse blows you have to replace it. It's a good idea if your home has a fusebox to keep 1 or 2 spares of each size fuse right beside the fuse panel so that you can find them easily when needed. It is highly recommended that you replace your old fuse panel with a circuit breaker panel. A qualified electrician and an electrical permit will be required for this. If you happen to sell your house, one of the main concerns a prospective buyer, or home inspector, has is the electrical wiring and breaker panel. Old overloaded fuse panels will definitely be a major issue. Replacing your fuse panel and updating any unsafe wiring will go a long way when and if you decide to put your home on the market. You are free to use this article on your website as long as the resource box below with live link is retained and the article is not modified. |
||||
| Article Source: http://articlejam.co.za | ||||
|
||||
|
||||
| © 2010 articlejam.co.za |