Thread: Another fuse panel to kick around

Check it out. 100 amp cartridge fuses, with a nice disconnect switch and the correct fuses installed, 1960 house.

What's your comment to the client?

Did you really have to ask?

I would inform client to check with insurance company for coverage if the fusing, wiring and everything else is okay.

Multiple neutrals under a terminal
Bare copper ground does not look like it's connected.
At the top of the right fuse block, looks like there is an unfused wire connected to the feed.

The multiples were allowed IMO. Otherwise the label would prohibit it, I think.

The bare ground is a bonding conductor for something no longer there, loops around, yes, end not terminated, but secured to the box with a cable clamp.

I did call for the panel grounding to be checked, for reason of the picture below, abandoned water pipe, still in use as the grounding rod.

But what about the 100 amp fuse panel service?

Originally Posted by John Kogel

But what about the 100 amp fuse panel service?

Life style issue 100 amps was fine in 1960.
*Maybe not so much in 2014.

The 100 amp is now the minimum recommended service for my area by electrical authority fwiw.

Changing peoples view of the world one panel at a time...............

Can say that they have not had many problems since there are only two newer fuses installed. The glass ones are harder to come by in recent years and could be original.

Originally Posted by Garry Sorrells

Can say that they have not had many problems since there are only two newer fuses installed. The glass ones are harder to come by in recent years and could be original.

Fuses are not hard to find ( photo could indicate a stock pile of replacements are kept on hand whilst resupply is headed in on FEDEX Truck.)

Lot of 5 Royal Crystal 20A Screw Edison Base Fuses 20 Amp | eBay

Those are 20's. For the correct 15 amp fuse, he'd have to go to HD.

Leviton | Fuse P Rated 15 Amp | Home Depot Canada

Originally Posted by John Kogel

Those are 20's. For the correct 15 amp fuse, he'd have to go to HD.

Leviton | Fuse P Rated 15 Amp | Home Depot Canada

Gary Likes 20's.
* you saying 20's don't go in Every Slot?

Originally Posted by Billy Stephens

Gary Likes 20's.
* you saying 20's don't go in Every Slot?

Actually I like 30's much better. They take a licking and keep on ticking and ticking and ticking....

Originally Posted by Garry Sorrells

Actually I like 30's much better. They take a licking and keep on ticking and ticking and ticking....

But these are Mo Shiny!!!

How's this?
" Because a replacement fuse will cost you $6 plus tax, and you have jars and piggy banks full of pennies, to avoid the temptation to use them as fuses, I recommend you spend those pennies on a new breaker panel for safety."

Originally Posted by Jim Abram

Billy
Article 220 of theNational Electrical Code lays out the primary requirements for performing load calculations that are necessary for determining the size of a residential service.

The calculations are based on the expected loads present in a dwelling unit, along with appropriate demand factors that are used to account for the diversity of electrical use by occupants.

The load calculation worksheets are available online ..

Thanks Jim,

I'll let you determine ALL the Correct Loads.
*some are Larger than others.

Originally Posted by John Kogel

How's this?
" Because a replacement fuse will cost you $6 plus tax, and you have jars and piggy banks full of pennies, to avoid the temptation to use them as fuses, I recommend you spend those pennies on a new breaker panel for safety."

Then you can spend $3.50 and put in a 20 amp breaker on that 14/2 circuit or better yet a 30 amp breaker for the same money and not have that pesky resetting all of the time.

If the house does not have need for many circuits, then I would tell them that the panel is functional and probably safer than many old circuit breaker panels. Unless their insurance company or mortgage company requires it to be replaced, then not an immediate need. I do recommend replacing the fuses with Type S fuses.

Originally Posted by Mark Reinmiller

I do recommend replacing the fuses with Type S fuses.

That is one of the very very few retroactive sections in the NEC - any evidence of oversize fusing - removing the Edison base fuses and replacing them with the Type S Safe-T-Fuse adapters and fuses is required.

Originally Posted by Billy Stephens

Fuses are not hard to find ( photo could indicate a stock pile of replacements are kept on hand whilst resupply is headed in on FEDEX Truck.)

Lot of 5 Royal Crystal 20A Screw Edison Base Fuses 20 Amp | eBay

From an antique shop!

Going back to John's OP, I would advise the client to call his Insurance Agent to confirm my opinion that the house would not pass a 4 Point Inspection (in Florida) and in all likelihood the panel would need to be changed out.