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#115959 01/10/04 11:38 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,682
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[Linked Image]

The first pic shows the method by which earlier poking fingers dealt with expanding electrical needs. Just add an extra wire... there's room on the terminal!

[Linked Image]

The second pic shows what greeted me when I pulled the cover. Notice the liberal use of 30 ampere fuses - I guess the 15 and 20's kept blowing, so neighborhood helpers "fixed" the problem. What the heck, I mean, 14 and 12 awg can handle it, right? The fact that only one circuit was actually rated for 30a is kind of incidental I suppose.

[Linked Image]

The third pic shows how the aforementioned poking fingers added additional home runs. If there aren't enough K.O.'s (***HINT***HINT***) then we can just piggyback the Romexes together in the same hole, right?

Not to worry. Granny's got a new Seimens 100a breaker panel with 15 breakers in place. She's happy, and it made a good Xmas present.

-DougW

#115960 01/11/04 10:17 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,294
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It looks like someone's been in here and added some things (the white romexes) comparatively recently.
The 30 A fuses can be explained!
Green is for go=30A
Red is for stop=20A
Someone just wanted it to go.

#115961 01/11/04 02:04 PM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 289
:
Member
[Linked Image] [Linked Image]

#115962 01/11/04 07:38 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,294
Member
Heck, Andy
I was only kiddin'.
(My sarcasism is very often "not appreciated" at the job, either, but things sometimes, issues must at least be mentioned)...S




[This message has been edited by electure (edited 01-11-2004).]

#115963 01/11/04 09:23 PM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,081
T
Member
Question, asked of a child:
"What does the greenlight mean?"
Child: "Go!"

"Very good. What does the red light mean?"
Child: "Stop!"

"Excellent! Now, what does the yellow light mean?"
Child: "Hurry up!"

#115964 01/12/04 10:15 AM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 289
:
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what does the orange light mean - the wire is glowing...

of course i understood your joke, my reaction was meant for the pictures [Linked Image]

#115965 01/12/04 10:43 AM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,691
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Member
Thinkgood, spoken like a true New Yorker. [Linked Image]

Is the color-coding for screw-in fuses universal? I know I commonly see blue for 15 amps, 20 is orange, I believe....and I think I once saw a 30-amp fuse with a yellow & green band.

And I have an 8-amp fuse with a green band. All of these are Buss/Cooper.

There also used to be these all-glass fuses, but I haven't seen new ones of those in ages -- Gem in Hauppauge, NY (on Long Island) used to make those....

p.s. I understand that the casing for these fuses is not porcelain anymore, but a type of plastic composition. Not really thrilled about that...isn't it possible for it to melt?

#115966 01/12/04 02:22 PM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,081
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Sven:

"Don't Walk" = RUN!

Seriously, what is unfortunate in many situations is that the homeowner/occupant does not realize that there may not necessarily be an immediate danger, but that over time the overloading can cause problems.

#115967 01/13/04 06:01 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,143
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The thing I was most thankful for this (day after) Xmas? That the PoCo had run 100a capable service to all of the houses when the subdivision was built... saved time and $$.

Explained to Grandma that, while the cousins may have meant well, that they had placed her and her house in jeopardy... we had a fire a few years ago - about a week before Xmas - due to 30a fuses and extension cords under carpets.

I also told her to call me if anybody tried messing with the new panel - cause i'll kill 'em!

#115968 01/13/04 10:02 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 7
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A commentary from an owner of a neighborhood hardware store.....
We used to sell a lot of 15 & 20 amp fuses, and quite a few times, when the shelf was empty, the people took the 30'. Well, I don't sell to many 15/20's anymore.

Customer told him...
You've been sellin' me the 'cheap' fuses all these years! I found the "real good" ones at Harry's Hardware, same price, but they don't 'blow'. He showed a "real good" fuse to the owner, yes it was 30 amp.

I have quite a few glowing memories of some old tenements in Newark, from years back...

John


John
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