Energy Terminology : Why fuses blow, what to do and how to replace a blown fuse
- Fuses and circuit breakers are the safety valves of your electrical circuits and are located in your main service panel. The two most common causes that effect the blowout of fuse and circuit breaker trips are.
- Overload: Too many appliances, lights, fans may be on the circuit. This is the main reason of Overloading.It can be corrected by disconnecting one or more of the devices in use at the time of the interruption
- Short Circuit: A short circuit is an electrical fault in your wiring or in a piece of equipment that is connected to it. Call your electrician to locate and correct the problem. Common causes of shorts are frayed cords or damaged plugs. Any time you spot a frayed cord or damaged plug, have it repaired/replaced immediately.
- Be sure no water is on the wall or floor near the service panel.
- Turn off the main switch or remove the main fuse, thus cutting off all the current to your home and assuring your safety while you change other fuses.
- Unscrew the burned-out fuse. The scorched or discoloured face of the fuse makes it easy to spot.
- Screw in a new fuse of the proper size. DO NOT replace with a fuse of larger capacity.
- Turn the main switch back on or replace the main fuse. That's all.
- To restore a tripped circuit breaker: Many homes and apartments today have miniature circuit breakers (MCB) instead of fuses. Instead of blowing out when trouble develops, a lever, which looks much like a light switch, trips from ON to, or toward, OFF, thus breaking the circuit.
- Be sure no water is on the wall or floor near the service panel.
- Move the lever all the way to OFF and then to ON, just as if you were moving a light switch.