Understanding electrical wiring and the type that is present in your home is key to protecting your safety and the safety of the wiring in your home.

The presence of fuses indicates that your electrical service was installed over 30 years ago. This wiring was installed to meet the electrical needs at that time. With the added power demands in today’s world, such as appliances, and office and audio visual equipment, this older wiring may not be adequate. A certified electrician or licensed electrical contractor should be hired to inspect the electrical system. This inspection will identify the electrical demands needed and any corrections that are necessary. This should be completed, at a minimum, once every three years.

When a fuse blows, more often than not, the blown fuse is the result of an overloaded circuit. This means that there is too much electrical demand on the circuit. If the fuse is continually blowing, there is a much more serious problem and a certified electrician or licensed electrical contractor should be hired to correct the problem.

An all too common practice to stop a fuse from continually blowing is to install a higher rated fuse in the circuit. For example, replacing a 15-amp fuse with a 20-amp fuse. This is a recipe for disaster, as this allows for more current into the circuit than it was designed for. This can lead to overheating of the wire and probably fire.

Another extremely dangerous situation is inserting copper / metal tubes (fake fuses) with cartridge style fuses since this does not provide protection from current overload. If the circuit is not protected properly, you are increasing the potential for a fire to occur as well as electrical arcing and electrical shock.

If a fuse needs to be replaced, always install properly matched fuses. If the fuse is continually blowing, do not hesitate to contact an electrician. John's Electric, Birmingham's #1 electrician, will provide you with solutions to protect your home and family from electrical dangers.