ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade Non-US Electrical Systems & Trades Receptacle Challenge

Isn't BS1361 like 1362 a standardised cart. system in which all fuses regardless of rating fit the same holder?

If so Diazed/Neozed is far superior as the vast majority of the population are pretty dumb and wouldn't think twice about whacking a much higher ampage fuse into a 15A socket circuit because it blows when they have the dryer and washer runing simultaniously off a double adaptor

DJK,
BS 1361 (consumer unit) fuses are not like BS 1362 (plug) fuses, they are of different dimensions. The smallest is 5A, & 45A is the largest, so you can't fit a larger fuse into a smaller carrier. As with all fuse systems they can be abused, for example, by wrapping a blown fuse in tin foil. Is Diazed/Neozed not open to the same bodging by those who know no better?

BS 1361 fuses are available in the following ratings:
5A: White (5.35mm dia X 23mm long)
15A: Blue (10.32mm X 26mm)
20A: Yellow (15 & 20A are the same dimensions & can be interchanged with each other.)
30A: Red (12.70mm X 29mm)
45A: Green (16.67mm X 35mm)

[This message has been edited by David UK (edited 10-20-2003).]

Yeah I'm sure it is but due to the complicated way the carrier works and the strange shape of the cart. it's quite difficult to bypass the fuse.

I have seen attempts to open a diazed fuse and replace the wire inside though! It's quite easy to remove the pointed tip of the fuse but it's rather more difficult to remove and replace the flat terminal at the bottom / top (depending on which way you're looking at it).

It's amazing that BS1361 wasn't made compulsary many years ago though.

I'm curious too as to how the carrier works? It's plug in ?

Also, I never understood why BS1362 (Plug fuses) were never graded making it impossible to overfuse. (particularly the 3 amp fuses). Although I guess it's of little consequence thesedays with the vast majority of appliences and their flexes being quite safe at 16 A as they're designed for pan-european use. Rendering the <13A fuses pretty much an optional safety extra in many ways.

[This message has been edited by djk (edited 10-21-2003).]

Here's the range of BS1361 fuses found in consumer units:



The traditional fitting had the fuse in a plug-in carrier. These are still available in the Wylex Standard range. You might just be able to see here that the pins on the opened-up 30A carrier are larger than those on the 15/20A unit, thus preventing the insertion of the wrong size fuse:



There are newer types of carrier where the block fitted to the panel has a hinged pull-out. You just pull out the top, drop a fuse into the carrier and push it back in. This is the Hager type:



To do that there would have to be different types of BS1363 plug, each type designed to accept only the correct size fuse.

Even if this had been done, there would still be the problem of overfusing when somebody chopped the 13A-version plug off an old electric heater to use on their new bedside lamp.


[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 10-21-2003).]

Gene,

Here's the sort of thing The Beatles were talking about:



Incredible as it may seem, this particular brand of rewireable fuse was still being installed as standard into the 1980s, and Wylex still makes them!

Fortunately, the Wylex panels these fit can be converted to cartridge fuses very easily, without even taking off the front cover.

Diazed fuses can easily be "mended" by driving a nail through it or wrapping something round it. (A smaller size fuse will help you past the limited diameter entrance in the bottom of the fuse holder)

Some trades usually do this before they start working, since their equipment draws more power than is available in a domestic setting.

I still think an old big old black diazed panel with the huge round white porceline fuse caps has an excellent 1930s SiFi quality about it